A delegation of the Culture and Education Committee will travel to Budapest from 2-4 November for insights into recent developments in the country’s cultural, education and media policies.
The delegation, comprising eight MEPs and led by committee chair Sabine Verheyen (EPP, DE), was initially planned for spring 2020. MEPs will be in Budapest to gain in situ insights into Hungarian cultural, educational and media policy, as well as to speak with the people involved.
They are set to meet 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 will also meet Budapest Deputy Major Anett Bősz and representatives from the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, the Hungarian Academy of Science, Central European University, and figures from media and civil society, including NGOs dealing with refugees – to discuss in particular the situation of school-age children and young people.
“As a committee responsible for preparing Parliament’s input for the EU’s culture and education programmes, and responsible for the upcoming Media Freedom Act, we want to discuss 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 our members by Hungary’s academic and artistic community and civil society,” head of the delegation Sabine Verheyen (EPP, DE) said ahead of the visit.
“It is important for us now that we as MEPs see with our own eyes what the situation in Hungary is, and also to evaluate to what extent European citizenship and democracy might be strengthened through education and culture,” she added.
MEPs travelling with the delegation: Ms Sabine VERHEYEN, Chair of the CULT Committee (EPP, Germany), Ms Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ (EPP, Czech Republic), Mr Andrey SLABAKOV (ECR, Bulgaria), Ms Petra KAMMEREVERT (S&D, Germany), Ms Ilana CICUREL (Renew, France), Mr Marcos ROS SEMPERE (S&D, Spain), Ms Irena JOVEVA (Renew, Slovenia), Accompanying Member: Ms Andrea BOCSKOR (Non-attached, Hungary)
