Hungary allowed to join Erasmus+ again

From the coming academic year, Hungarian students will once again be allowed to take part in the European exchange programme Erasmus+. The announcement was made by the President of the European Commission.

More than three years ago, the European Union decided to turn off the funding tap to Hungary. Billions of euros in EU subsidies were frozen. Universities were no longer allowed to receive European funding and student exchanges through Erasmus were set to end. Hungary first had to take concrete steps to strengthen the rule of law.

Now Viktor Orbán’s sixteen-year rule has come to an end. In the elections in April, Péter Magyar’s opposition party won the vote. He has promised to tackle corruption in the country and restore the independence of higher education.

That is already paying off. The European Commission wants to resume cooperation with Hungary and some European funding will become available again. According to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, the Magyar government has already taken important steps. She said this today during a press conference in Brussels alongside Hungary’s new leader.

There is still more to be done, but the President spoke of a ‘strong wind of change’. Progress has also been made on academic freedom.

Von der Leyen ended with special attention for Erasmus+. According to her, an exchange like this can make you fall in love with another country, language and culture. She believes it is important that Hungarian students can once again enjoy that special experience. And from the coming academic year, they can.