The European Commission has pulled Erasmus+ and Horizon funds from Vienna’s Modul University due to its ties to a Hungarian owner linked to Hungary’s conservative movement.
Austria’s Private University Conference (ÖPUK) slammed the decision, calling it an attempt to exert financial pressure based on political preferences.
“It is unacceptable to exert financial pressure on universities because new ownership structures—which comply with the law—do not align with the political agenda of funding agencies. Refusal of funding violates the principles of freedom of science, art, and education, as enshrined in Austrian law,” ÖPUK stated.
The controversy stems from Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), a conservative educational institution with close ties to Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party, holding a majority stake in Modul University. The EU cited this as the primary reason for cutting off funds, which typically support academic exchange programs.
Critics argue this move is politically motivated, particularly since the European Commission had already barred 21 Hungarian universities from the same funding in December 2022. At the time, the EU claimed the presence of politicians on university boards justified the decision. However, even after those politicians stepped down, the restrictions remained in place.
