Hungary EU funds minister speaks about possible resignation
The minister said that in the short term, i.e. in the next week, no progress is expected on Erasmus grants, but that an agreement should be reached by the end of March. Later, the minister said that if Hungary were to lose EU funds for reasons for which he was responsible, he would resign from his post.
The minister will travel to Brussels next week to discuss Erasmus, focusing on the European Commission's requirements and criteria.
The rule of law procedure against Hungary has resulted in a ban on commitments of EU funds to higher education institutions managed by public interest asset management foundations. This also affects digitisation and research and development programmes in higher education planned with cohesion funds, Erasmus+ funds and Horizon Europe funds directly awarded in Brussels.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Brussels is "taking revenge" on Hungarian students because they cannot get a grip on the government.
Gergely Gulyás, the PM's chief of staff, first said the Commission's requirement regarding public interest trusts (conflict of interest with politicians of Fidesz or businessmen closely tied to the ruling party being members, and often at the helm, of said foundations managing universities) was all new to the cabinet. Then he admitted they had known for some time, but the government had not thought this was such a serious issue, and that the demand was "concealed" in a lengthy document.
Orbán said that if they could not reach an agreement with the European Commission on the matter, the Hungarian budget would pay for the programme next year.
Cover photo: Portfolio
