EU Council lifts Hungary funding restrictions, releasing €4.2 billion
Hungary can also return to Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe after Péter Magyar’s government introduced anti-corruption and transparency reforms.
Hungary has regained access to €4.2 billion in EU funding after the Council of the European Union lifted a mechanism restricting payments because of corruption risks. The decision follows reforms introduced by Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s government and restores Hungarian participation in Erasmus+ exchanges and Horizon Europe research.
The restrictions dated from 2022, when Viktor Orbán was prime minister. They tied Hungary’s eligibility for EU money to compliance with rule-of-law standards. Magyar’s centre-right Tisza Party subsequently won a landslide election victory, and his government introduced measures on transparency and tackling corruption to regain access to the funding.
Magyar and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed on releasing €16.4 billion in total in return for reforms and investment plans. Beyond the €4.2 billion now available, Hungary is seeking €10 billion in EU post-pandemic recovery funding. Another €2.2 billion depends on improvements to academic freedom.
Hungary said at the end of August that it had satisfied every condition for accessing the funds. The European Commission is assessing that claim. A favourable assessment, followed by approval in the autumn, could allow Budapest to access the remaining money before the end of 2026.
