The European Commission proposes to release 4.2 billion euros for Hungary

The European Commission proposed on Wednesday to release 4.2 billion euros for Hungary, welcoming the efforts of the new government of Peter Magyar to remedy the attacks on the rule of law of the Viktor Orban era.

“Hungary has taken important measures to strengthen the rule of law (...) Today, we propose to release 4.2 billion euros and fully reopen” access to the Erasmus and Horizon Europe programs to Hungarian students and researchers, declared the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. “This shows that reforms produce results,” insisted the head of the European executive.

For Brussels, Hungary has “corrected weaknesses”

The release of these funds will have to be validated by the Twenty-Seven, but there is little suspense. This is a first tranche of more than 16 billion euros in frozen funds that the European Union intends to gradually return to Hungary, subject to reforms. Brussels underlines that Hungary has “corrected weaknesses” in terms of “public procurement, the fight against corruption, the prevention of conflicts of interest and the effectiveness of legal proceedings”.

These funds had been blocked as part of various proceedings brought against the policies of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, notably concerning the rights of LGBT+ people and asylum seekers, as well as situations of conflicts of interest. Peter Magyar's victory in the Hungarian elections in mid-April caused immense relief in Brussels, forced to deal with the nationalist Orban for 16 years.

Close to Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, Viktor Orban regularly blocked European negotiations, particularly on support for Ukraine.