No more freezing funds? Magyar after a “very good” conversation with the head of the European Commission

The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced on Wednesday that she had a “very good conversation” in Brussels with the future Prime Minister of Hungary, Peter Magyar. It concerned the conditions for unlocking EU funds for Budapest, which are suspended due to concerns about corruption and violations of the rule of law in Hungary.

“Very good exchange with Peter Magyar today in Brussels. We discussed the steps necessary to unlock EU funds intended for Hungary, which are frozen due to corruption and concerns about the rule of law,” von der Leyen wrote on X.

Magyar also assessed the meeting with von der Leyen as constructive.

“We have agreed that as Prime Minister of Hungary, I will return to Brussels in the week (starting – PAP) of May 25 to finalize the necessary political agreement, thanks to which Hungary and Hungarians will be able to receive the EU funds they are entitled to as soon as possible – for an amount of several trillion forints. I would like to reassure everyone: the European Union does not impose any conditions that would be contrary to the national interests of Hungary,” wrote Magyar on X.

He added that EU funds will soon begin to flow to Hungary, which will help launch the Hungarian economy and provide what is needed for the functioning of the country.

Hungary under Orban's government lost access to approximately EUR 17 billion, which is almost 10 percent. the country's annual GDP. EUR 10 billion comes from the reconstruction fund launched after the Covid-19 pandemic; the deadline for spending this money expires in August. The remaining EUR 7 billion are funds from the seven-year EU budget, intended for regional development. The current EU multiannual financial perspective ends in 2027.

The European Commission has made unblocking Hungary's access to money conditional on reforms, including: guaranteeing the independence of the judiciary and fighting corruption.

From Brussels Łukasz Osiński (PAP)

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