Hungarian Prime Minister-elect P\u00e9ter Magyar agreed with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the incoming Hungarian government and Brussels will conclude a political agreement by late May aimed at unlocking the EU funds currently frozen for Hungary.<\/p>\n
Magyar travelled to Brussels on Wednesday, 29 April, where he held what he described as a \u2018highly constructive and productive meeting\u2019 with von der Leyen regarding the multi-billion-euro funding withheld since December 2022 under the EU\u2019s rule-of-law conditionality mechanism. The European Commission established 27 so-called \u2018super milestones\u2019 Hungary must fulfil in order to access the funds.<\/p>\n
These conditions cover a broad range of structural reforms, including anti-corruption measures, public procurement transparency, judicial independence, and wider fundamental rights guarantees. Crucially, no payment can be made until all 27 milestones are fully implemented, making them the central benchmark in negotiations between Budapest and Brussels.<\/p>\n
I had a highly constructive and productive meeting with the President of the European Commission.<\/p>\n
We agreed that, as Prime Minister of Hungary, I will return to Brussels in the week of 25 May to conclude the political agreement necessary for Hungary and the Hungarian people to\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/7J7nThrUeQ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Magyar P\u00e9ter (Ne f\u00e9ljetek) (@magyarpeterMP) April 29, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Speaking at his first international press conference<\/a> as prime minister-elect on 13 April, Magyar outlined a four-point reform package which he believes could unlock at least part of the funding. \u2018These are anti-corruption measures, including joining the European Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office,\u2019 Magyar said, referring to the EU prosecutorial body that Hungary\u2014alongside Ireland and Denmark\u2014has so far refused to join. \u2018The second is to restore the independence of the judiciary and investigative authorities, the third is to ensure freedom of the press, and the fourth is to liberate Hungarian universities and academic freedom,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n As Hungarian Conservative previously reported, the incoming prime minister\u2019s proposals address around 70 per cent<\/a> of the Commission\u2019s conditions, while the remaining 30 per cent concern politically and ideologically more sensitive issues, primarily migration policy and LGBTQ rights.<\/p>\n Speaking on Wednesday, Magyar stressed that the Commission is \u2018not imposing any conditions that would be contrary to Hungary\u2019s national interests.\u2019 The outgoing Orb\u00e1n government, by contrast, argued that implementing several of the milestones would amount to surrendering Hungarian sovereignty.<\/p>\n \u2018EU funds will soon start arriving in Hungary, enabling us to kick-start the Hungarian economy and deliver what is needed for a functioning and humane country,\u2019 Magyar concluded.<\/p>\n In a post on X, von der Leyen also praised the meeting, stating that the Commission would support Magyar\u2019s efforts to address corruption and rule-of-law concerns and to \u2018realign with shared European values\u2019.<\/p>\n A very good exchange with @magyarpeterMP<\/a> in Brussels today.<\/p>\n We discussed the steps necessary to unlock EU funds earmarked for Hungary, that are frozen due to corruption and rule of law concerns.@EU_Commission<\/a> will support your work to address these issues and realign with\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/WKfcnbZjlI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 29, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n According to POLITICO Brussels, the \u2018political agreement\u2019 expected at the end of May would involve a completely new national recovery plan<\/a> replacing the Orb\u00e1n-era proposals submitted in 2021. Approximately \u20ac10 billion from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) could be permanently lost after 31 August if the required milestones are not implemented in time.<\/p>\n According to the outlet, Magyar intends to prioritize reforms and targets that can realistically be completed before the deadline, while \u2018parking slower constitutional changes\u2019 that Tisza promised to discuss more broadly with stakeholders. His team has reportedly also been cooperating with ministers and civil servants from the outgoing Orb\u00e1n administration on the technical aspects of implementing the reforms, according to three officials cited by POLITICO Brussels.<\/p>\n The incoming Tisza government is also seeking a broader reset in relations with Brussels, including relief from the daily fines imposed under a ruling of the European Court of Justice (CJEU) regarding Hungary\u2019s migration policy. Magyar said he intends to keep the southern border fence in place and even strengthen border protection, while resolving what he described as primarily technical, legal, and administrative disputes that currently cost Hungary \u20ac1 million per day.<\/p>\n \u2018His team has\u2026also been cooperating with ministers and civil servants from the outgoing Orb\u00e1n administration\u2019<\/p>\n Just days after the election, the CJEU ruled that Hungary\u2019s 2021 child protection law\u2014which prohibits the promotion of homosexuality, LGBTQ-related, and gender-themed content in media accessible to minors\u2014violates EU law<\/a>, increasing pressure on the incoming government to take a clear position on an issue Magyar largely avoided during the campaign.<\/p>\n Tisza\u2019s voter base is highly heterogeneous, consisting of urban liberal\u2013progressive voters, conservatives, and many former Fidesz supporters, making culture-war issues politically sensitive for the party.<\/p>\n Speaking on 13 April, Magyar addressed LGBTQ issues briefly, stating that \u2018Hungary should be a country where no one is stigmatized for loving someone differently than the majority.\u2019 Together with the profiles of some of the incoming officials, these remarks suggest a more progressive approach to such issues than that of the outgoing Orb\u00e1n government, potentially making them one of the areas where Tisza could offer concessions in order to secure EU funding.<\/p>\n Magyar is expected to be sworn in on 9 May, formally beginning his premiership.<\/p>\n Related articles:<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t