Munich (dpa / lby) – According to Science Minister Markus Blume, Bavaria’s universities do not have to worry about rising energy costs. “The Free State’s commitment to a winter semester is evident. And there will be no energy holidays at our universities either. The energy costs will, as always, be borne by the Free State,” said the CSU politician in the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” ( Tuesday).
“Because the Bavarian universities and colleges are state institutions, one thing goes without saying: In the Free State of Bavaria, every energy bill is paid,” emphasized Blume. There will also be no staff cuts at the universities to reduce costs.
Blume did not say exactly where the additional money came from: “The challenge is that to this day nobody knows exactly how the federal government’s energy price brakes work – and the institutions have sometimes concluded very different energy supply contracts be able to provide reliable figures over the next few months.” It is clear that the costs would increase significantly – at a university as well as at the State Opera. “We have that in mind.”
Blume criticized the fact that the universities were not covered by the federal hardship fund to cover energy costs: “For cost reasons, there must not and will not be an energy lockdown at our scientific institutions.” It is very unfortunate that the federal government is leaving the states completely alone.
The student unions are different. These fell under the Bavarian hardship fund and would also receive higher grants in the budget for 2023, said Blume. “We think that the combination of the energy price brake, the Bavarian hardship fund and higher grants from the Free State will support the student unions well in financing their tasks.”
