Patriots Mobilize as Fight Over Erasmus Program Intensifies

One of the key topics at the Patriots for Europe summit was the European Commission’s unlawful treatment of Hungarian university students and researchers, Culture and Innovation Minister Balazs Hanko said in a post on social media. “In a joint statement, the Patriots rejected the European Commission’s use of the Erasmus+ program as a tool of political pressure,” the minister said in a video message.

Balazs Hanko, Hungary's Minister for Culture and Innovation (Photo: MTI / Tamas Purger)

He described the consequences of the exclusions as severe: 

over the past three years, nearly 380,000 university students and around 20,000 researchers have been negatively affected by the decisions.

At the same time, he emphasized that the Hungarian government has sought to mitigate the damage through alternative programs. Under the Pannonia Program, more than 11,000 students and faculty members have already participated in international mobility schemes, while the HU-RIZONT program has connected 30 Hungarian research groups with leading universities around the world.

With the Pannonia Program—which is better than Erasmus—we have ensured that 11,355 students and instructors can take part in international programs not only across Europe, but at top universities worldwide,

the minister said.

In closing, Hankó called for justice for Hungarian students and researchers and urged support for the six Hungarian universities that have taken legal action against the European Commission. As he put it, a clear stand must be taken against “Brussels’ arbitrariness” and in defense of Hungarian higher education and research.

Cover photo: Balazs Hanko, Hungary's Minister for Culture and Innovation (Photo: MTI / Tamas Purger)

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