The European Union has approved the release of around €10 billion in recovery funding for Hungary, despite growing concerns over the rule of law and the new government’s efforts to rapidly consolidate power.
EU finance ministers approved Hungary’s revised Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRF) on Friday, July 10th, clearing the way for approximately €6.5 billion in grants and €3.5 billion in low-interest loans.
The European Commission stressed that payments will remain conditional on Hungary meeting agreed reform milestones, particularly in the areas of anti-corruption, transparency, and public procurement.
The funds had been frozen for years under former prime minister Viktor Orbán, whose conservative government was accused by Brussels of breaching rule of law standards and fundamental EU “values”—in other words, it defied the EU position on issues such as migration, gender ideology, and the war in Ukraine.
Following the election victory of pro-Brussels Prime Minister Péter Magyar in April, however, the Commission moved quickly to release the EU funds—just like it did two years ago in Poland after the election victory of Brussels ally Donald Tusk.
On Friday, the European Commission also approved Hungary’s application to join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), a move long resisted by the previous government on sovereignty grounds.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the decision, describing it as “a welcome step in the fight against fraud and corruption” and saying it would provide an additional safeguard for the use of EU funds.
Yet rule of law standards and fundamental EU “values” don’t seem to matter either to the Council or the Commission, now that their globalist ally is in power in Budapest.
The EU’s institutions have not said a word about the Magyar government’s constitutional amendments aimed at removing officials appointed under the previous cabinet, as well as weakening former Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party and any institutions linked to Hungarian conservative movements.
On Monday, July 13th, the Hungarian parliament is expected to accept a legal mechanism to remove the country’s president, Tamás Sulyok, before the end of his term.
Human rights organisations, constitutional lawyers, and the non-EU Council of Europe’s Venice Commission have raised concerns over several elements of the reforms.
Fidesz has accused Brussels of applying double standards, arguing that the EU was willing to withhold billions from the Orbán government over alleged rule of law deficiencies but has moved quickly to unlock funding despite fresh constitutional controversies under the country’s new leadership.
The opposition party also claims that Hungary secured the money only after accepting significant policy concessions that are not in Hungary’s national interest, including joining the EPPO, reviewing tax incentives, or restricting access to certain housing support schemes.
Fidesz also noted that roughly €4 billion of the €6.5 billion in grants will reimburse projects already completed under the previous Orbán government, including railway modernisation schemes and healthcare infrastructure investments in villages and small towns. According to the party, this refutes longstanding accusations that EU money had been “stolen.”
