EU Proposes Unblocking €4.2 Billion for Hungary

The European Commission has proposed to the EU Council the unblocking of €4.2 billion in cohesion funds for Hungary, after assessing that Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s government has taken steps to address rule-of-law concerns.

The Commission has also proposed Hungary’s full return to the Erasmus and Horizon programs.

About 55 percent of the cohesion funds earmarked for Hungary had been suspended in 2022 due to concerns over respect for the principles of the rule of law.

According to the European Commission, the corrective measures announced by the Hungarian government on September 9 and their implementation have addressed the issues in areas such as public procurement, the fight against corruption, conflicts of interest and the effectiveness of criminal prosecution.

Hungary has strengthened the powers of the Integrity Authority, introduced a broader asset-declaration system and increased transparency for potential conflicts of interest.

Controls over EU funds and transparency in public procurement have also been strengthened. Another important step is Hungary’s accession to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.

“The reforms are delivering concrete results,” declared European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.