Overview
- Hungarian prime minister Peter Magyar met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Friday to push for the unfreezing of roughly €18 billion in funds withheld since 2022.
- The frozen sum includes about €10–10.4 billion from the EU Covid recovery plan that must be requested by August 31 and roughly €6.3 billion in cohesion money that remains conditional on reforms.
- The Commission has made clear that release depends on completed, implemented 'super milestones' covering the judiciary, stronger anti-corruption safeguards and transparent public procurement.
- Brussels is negotiating cautiously because a pending European Court of Justice ruling on a 2023 disbursement and the presence of Viktor Orbán appointees in key Hungarian institutions could block or reverse progress.
- If funds are unlocked, Hungary’s weakened economy would see a near-term boost, but fast lawmaking by Magyar’s supermajority will still face legal and political tests that could delay actual payments.