Hungarian rectors seek reversal of EU freeze-out and ‘reparations’

Letter to Commission president warns of “damage to our community’s dignity and prosperity”

The rectors of the 21 Hungarian universities that have lost access to EU R&D and education funding are seeking a reversal of that decision, as well as “reparations” for “damage” they say it has inflicted on their community’s “dignity and prosperity”.

Based on a decision made by EU member state governments in December, the European Commission cut off new funding from the bloc’s R&D programme, Horizon Europe, and its academic-mobility programme, Erasmus+, over concerns that the EU budget faced legal risks because the universities’ boards have members appointed for life by the government.