Hungary’s Magyar Returns to Brussels for Frozen EU Funds
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has returned to Brussels for a pivotal two-day diplomatic visit, meeting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday in a bid to unlock approximately 17 billion euros in frozen EU funds and reset Hungary’s relationship with the bloc after 16 years of acrimony under Viktor Orbán.
Magyar, who won a landslide election on April 12 that ended Orbán’s 16-year rule, is racing against an August 31 deadline to secure 10.4 billion euros from the EU’s post-Covid Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), after which the funds risk being permanently lost. The visit includes meetings with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, but Friday’s crunch talks with von der Leyen are the centerpiece of the trip, according to La Libre Belgique.
Context: From Orbán to Magyar
Magyar’s Tisza Party won 141 of 199 parliamentary seats in April, securing a supermajority that gives him the legislative power to enact the constitutional and legal reforms Brussels has demanded. Under Orbán, the EU froze billions in funding over concerns about democratic backsliding, judicial independence, and corruption. Magyar, a former Fidesz insider who broke with Orbán in 2024, has pledged to restore the rule of law and normalize relations with Brussels.
As Euronews reported, Magyar’s most pressing priority is securing the 10.4 billion euros allocated under the RRF, comprising 6.5 billion in non-repayable grants and 3.9 billion in loans. Hungary has already received 919 million euros in advance payments, but the remaining funds require meeting 27 EU-mandated “super milestones” covering judicial independence, anti-corruption measures, and public procurement reform.
A Deal Within Reach
Speaking on Facebook ahead of the meeting, Magyar struck an optimistic tone. “I don’t want to say it too loudly, but we are now very close to an agreement,” he said, according to Euronews. He confirmed that agreement had already been reached on conditions relating to the governance of public-interest foundations and extending the mandate of Hungary’s anti-corruption body, the Integrity Authority. On remaining constitutional questions, he asked the Commission to show flexibility.
European Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho told journalists she would “not anticipate or prejudge the outcome of the meeting,” but confirmed that “a series of meetings has taken place between both teams in order to make as much progress as possible.”
EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law, Michael McGrath, said it was “encouraging to see the commitment and dedication of the new Hungarian government to swiftly proceed with rule-of-law reforms,” while also stressing that Hungary must reform “for its people, not for the EU.”
The Broader Agenda
Beyond the recovery funds, Magyar is seeking to unlock 6.3 billion euros in cohesion funds. Meeting the same conditions attached to the RRF could release 4.3 billion euros, while a further 2.5 billion depends on more politically sensitive reforms, including changes to anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, asylum rules, and the restoration of academic freedom.
As BBC News noted, Magyar could also gain access to up to 16.1 billion euros in cheap EU defence loans under the SAFE programme, and aims to end the 1 million euro daily fine Hungary has paid for breaching EU migration rules.
Magyar’s government has also signaled willingness to lift Hungary’s veto on Ukraine’s EU accession talks, which Orbán had blocked. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos expects the first negotiating chapter to open in June. Magyar insists the fund negotiations are “not connected in any way with the issue of Ukraine,” but both issues form part of the broader EU-Hungary agenda.
Analysis: A New Chapter?
Magyar’s visit is as much about symbolism as substance. The political agreement he seeks with von der Leyen would signal a new chapter in EU-Hungary relations after years of confrontation. As Politico Europe reported, the Commission’s decision to grant Magyar an audience before he was formally sworn in was unusual, reflecting the goodwill toward his reform agenda.
However, the August 31 deadline creates immense time pressure. Hungary must submit a revised national recovery plan, pass legislation meeting the 27 super milestones, and demonstrate implementation — all within three months. Magyar has acknowledged that securing the full 10.4 billion euros may not be realistic, telling Hungarian television that “every euro cent that we can bring here is needed to jump-start the Hungarian economy.”
What’s Next
The outcome of Friday’s meeting will determine whether a formal political agreement is signed or merely a roadmap agreed. Hungary is expected to submit its revised recovery plan either on Friday or in early June. The coming weeks will test whether Magyar’s government can maintain its reform momentum and deliver on its promise to transform Hungary’s relationship with Europe — before the clock runs out on the August deadline.