Navracsics: Hungary applies for EUR 3.9 billion RRF credit
Hungary plans to use the financing for energy infrastructure development as well as projects to boost energy efficiency and the green transition, Navracsics said.
Navracsics declined to answer a question on when the funds would be available, adding that the loan request would be filed later on Thursday. He added, however, that projects financed from the RRF must be completed before the autumn of 2026.
Meanwhile, the minister said the European Commission had not yet prepared its assessment of the Hungarian government’s responses to the EU’s concerns about the rule of law in Hungary. He added that as soon as the EU provided its feedback, EU’s cohesion funds to Hungary may be released.
Concerning the Erasmus higher education programme, Navracsics said financing for the programme was in place until the first half of 2024, adding that talks with Brussels were under way, and if negotiations were concluded before the end of November, financing for the second half of next year would also be ensured. He said he trusted that disputed issues around the contested programme would be resolved. “Current talks constitute the final stage of a series,” he added.
Navracsics said Erasmus was “the most effective advertisement for European integration”, adding that it was “incomprehensible” that the European Commission “is seeking to deprive students of that experience”. Banning Hungarian universities from the programme was, he said, “ideological discrimination” and “political blundering”.