Tibor Navracsics reported favorable news after he discussed Erasmus and Horizon funds with EU Commissioners Mariya Gabriel and Johannes Hahn on Wednesday afternoon. According to the minister without portfolio responsible for territorial development and the use of EU funds, both files can be closed in March with two not too complicated legislative amendments.

During today's negotiation, we agreed with the European Commission that there should be no threat to the continuation of the Erasmus program. For the 180,000 Hungarian students who attend foundation-maintained universities,

you don't have to worry about being dropped from the Erasmus program. Both financing and cooperation will continue to be smooth

Tibor Navracsics declared at his press conference in Brussels. The Minister of Regional Development of Hungary said that all this also applies to the Horizon Europe program. He added that they can also continue the work they have started and apply in the future.

The background to the case is that, in order to protect EU funds, the member states made a decision last December, among other things, that the EU cannot enter into new contracts with universities operating in the form of private foundations.

Among other things, because politicians also sit on the boards of trustees and this means a conflict of interest. Tibor Navracsics asked the two commissioners present, and through them the European Commission, to confirm what was said with clear communication and to increase confidence in the programs.

According to the judgment of the European Commission, there are concerns about the involvement of politicians in the case of ten of the 21 universities maintained by foundations.

"On our part, it is not an obstacle if the European Commission raises the issue that politicians cannot be members of these boards of trustees, then we can solve this with regulations," declared the minister.

He added that the duration of the mandates of the board of trustees should also be clarified.

Navracsics stated that the government is open and interested in the fact that, while the programs run smoothly, they can also handle the underlying concerns. - We are talking about two not very complicated legislative amendments, there will be no obstacles to this, in March, when the parliament meets again, then we will be able to pass them through - he said about the expected timing. He also noted that if necessary, he can come to Brussels for consultations every week. According to the European Commission, in 2020, 22,622 Hungarians participated in Erasmus+ foreign exchange programs in the fields of higher education, vocational training, school education, and adult education, which the EU supported with 40.45 million euros.

Source: Hungarian Nation

Featured image: MTI