Home / Semmelweis News /

Semmelweis University at a hearing before the Court of Justice of the European Union

By cseszregirobert
The Luxembourg-based General Court of the European Union (part of the Court of Justice of the European Union) held a hearing on Wednesday in the case of Hungarian universities that had changed their governance model and were affected by the freezing of EU funds. Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector of Semmelweis University, emphasized that the University had duly complied with all regulations during the implementation of the European Erasmus+ and Horizon programs. He stressed that it is therefore unacceptable for the European Union, due to its political dispute with the Hungarian Government, to exclude students and researchers from the Erasmus+ and Horizon programs, thereby depriving them of opportunities that could profoundly affect their futures. 

Together with other Hungarian universities (University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Óbuda University, University of Miskolc, and University of Dunaújváros), Semmelweis University filed a lawsuit against the Council of the European Union last May over the freezing of the Erasmus+ and Horizon programs. The case began on Wednesday with oral hearings before the nine-member Grand Chamber of the General Court of the European Union. Before the Court, Rector Dr. Béla Merkely spoke for Semmelweis University and Rector Levente Kovács for Óbuda University. 

In December 2022, the European Commission (EC) prohibited Hungarian universities that had switched to the foundation-based governance model from receiving EU funds through the Erasmus+ education program and the Horizon research program. According to the EC, these institutions do not ensure either institutional autonomy or transparency.

Before the Court, Dr. Béla Merkely stressed that Semmelweis University had complied with all relevant regulations in relation to the Erasmus+ and Horizon programs and had submitted all supporting documentation to both the European Commission and the Council of the European Union.

Neither the Council nor the Commission has bothered to notice, respond to, or even dispute those facts. In fact, they have diligently avoided facts and any discussion of facts. – Dr. Béla Merkely

The speech by Dr. Béla Merkely is available here.

According to Dr. Béla Merkely, this was not a professional but a political decision, as the European Union, due to its political dispute with the Hungarian Government, is depriving students and researchers of opportunities that could profoundly affect their futures.

I have had to accept that the Commission of the European Union and the Hungarian Government have had a grumpy relationship for years. This is not the University’s choice and not our dispute – especially not that of our university students from almost 130 countries. 

After Wednesday’s hearing, the case will move into the deliberation phase, and then the General Court of the European Union will announce its decision.