Culture and Education committee concludes visit in Budapest

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Dialogue with Hungary on media, cultural and academic freedom needs to continue, say MEPs
European Parliament delegation visited Hungary from 2-4 November
Focus on cultural and media policies, and artistic and academic freedom
Meetings held with government members, Hungarian parliament, educational institutions, civil society and press

Members of the Culture and Education Committee conclude their visit in Budapest, having gathered insights into recent developments in the country’s cultural, education and media policies.

In the concluding press conference in Budapest on Friday head of the delegation Sabine Verheyen (EPP, DE) said:

"This visit was very important, and one thing has become already clear: We need to continue the structured dialogue with Hungary on media, cultural and academic freedom, and aim at the strengthening of the common European values."

Delegation programme

The delegation, comprising eight MEPs, discussed with all sides the recent developments in education, cultural and media policies in Hungary - in the light of some concerns brought to the attention of the members by Hungary’s academic and artistic community and civil society.

They met with their counterparts in the Hungarian parliament (National Assembly), Culture and Innovation Minister János Csák, Regional Development Minister Tibor Navracsics, and representatives from Hungary’s National Media and Infocommunications Authority. MEPs also met Budapest Deputy Major Anett Bősz and representatives from the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, the Hungarian Academy of Science, Central European University, the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference, and figures from media and civil society, including NGOs dealing with refugees with whom they discussed in particular the situation of school-age children and young people.

Background

A committee of the European Parliament can decide to organise missions to a member state, a country outside of the EU or to international conferences. Missions are undertaken in the exercise of the powers conferred on the committee and are composed of a limited numbers of members of the committee. Missions and delegations are part of regular parliamentary work and make valuable contribution to the work of standing parliamentary committees as well as maintain and develop Parliament’s international contacts and contribute to enhancing the role and visibility of the European Union.

The Committee on Culture and Education is responsible for preparing Parliament’s co-legislating input for the EU’s culture and education programmes - Erasmus+, Creative Europe and European Solidarity Corps. It will also be responsible for the upcoming Media Freedom Act.

The mission to Hungary was initially planned for spring 2020.

MEPs who travelled with the delegation

Ms Sabine Verheyen (EPP, DE) , Chair of the CULT Committee

Ms Michaela Šojdrová (EPP, CZ)

Mr Andrey Slabakov (ECR, BG)

Ms Petra Kammerevert (S&D, DE)

Ms Ilana Cicurel (Renew, FR)

Mr Marcos Ros Sempere (S&D, ES)

Ms Irena Joveva (Renew, SI)

Accompanying Member: Ms Andrea Bocskor (NI, HU)