EU rushes to Budapest talks with Magyar team to unlock frozen funds amid Ukraine tensions

Published on 16/04/2026 - 17:15 GMT+2

European Commission officials volition conscionable Péter Magyar’s incoming squad connected Friday, arsenic Brussels races against clip to merchandise EU funds that person been frozen during the existent Orbán administration.

Magyar secured a sweeping triumph successful past Sunday's election, ending Viktor Orbán's 16-year rule. A cardinal run pledge was to reconstruct Hungary's ties with the EU and unblock billions successful backing that had been withheld implicit rule-of-law and corruption concerns. Of the €27bn earmarked for Hungary, €17bn remains frozen.

"The timepiece is ticking for respective topics, whether we're talking astir the Ukraine loan, whether we're talking astir Next Generation EU funds. It is successful the involvement of Hungary, it is successful the interests of the EU, that we marque advancement arsenic soon arsenic possible," Commission Spokesperson Paula Pinho said.

Euronews understands that the EU delegation volition see experts from the fund and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) — the EU’s post-Covid betterment fund. They are expected to supply method assistance to Magyar’s squad to assistance amend authorities successful Hungary.

"There's a large paper from which to choose, and these are archetypal talks. Not definite we'll beryllium capable to screen everything" Pinho added.

The betterment funds question is peculiarly urgent: Hungary stands to suffer astir €10bn if payments are not disbursed earlier the extremity of August.

On Monday, Magyar outlined a four-step program to conscionable the conditions for accessing the funds, including joining the European Public Prosecutor's Office, restoring judicial independence, and safeguarding world freedom.

Magyar has already spoken doubly with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who pledged her support. The determination by Brussels to nonstop a delegation conscionable 5 days aft the ballot is wide viewed arsenic a governmental awesome successful its ain right.

"There is swift enactment to beryllium done to restore, realign, and reform" Ursula von der Leyen said successful a station connected societal media pursuing her telephone with Magyar connected Wednesday.

Ukraine-related disputes besides connected the agenda

Unblocking EU funds volition not beryllium the lone point connected Friday's agenda. Hungary has a raft of outstanding disputes with Brussels, peculiarly implicit Ukraine. The state is presently withholding the EU's €90bn assistance bundle to Ukraine, aft Orbán blocked a antecedently agreed determination astatine the March EU summit.

Hungary has besides held up the opening of negotiating chapters successful Ukraine's EU accession process and withheld payments done the Ukraine Peace Facility.

It remains unclear whether an statement connected EU funds and Ukraine-related issues volition beryllium bundled together. Brussels has stressed that it is not imposing immoderate caller conditions for releasing the funds and that its stance connected the Ukraine indebtedness remains unchanged.

For Magyar’s incoming government, moving rapidly to endorse Ukraine-related commitments upon taking bureau carries governmental risks. During the campaign, Orbán repeatedly formed Tisza arsenic a puppet of Ukraine and Brussels. On Wednesday, Magyar urged Orbán to assistance his veto earlier leaving office.

Hungary blocked the Ukraine indebtedness partially implicit a longstanding quality concerning the Druzhba lipid pipeline, a cardinal artery of Hungary's vigor proviso that was damaged successful a Russian onslaught successful precocious January.

"In the adjacent 30 days, the Orbán authorities is inactive operating arsenic an enforcement government. So I think, if Druzhba restarts, Viktor Orbán volition merchandise his method veto" Péter Magyar said successful an interrogation with the Hungarian nationalist broadcaster connected Wednesday.

Ukraine had been reluctant to transportation retired repairs, citing method difficulties and information concerns. However, days aft the Hungarian election, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to reconstruct the pipeline by the extremity of April.