“In only a few weeks, you have driven forward long overdue reforms,” she told the conservative leader.<\/p>\n
The announcement is a big win for Magyar, who defeated longtime nationalist leader Orban in an election in April, and has been eager to show progress in securing the much needed funds.<\/p>\n
Hungary police say ‘no grounds’ to ban Budapest Pride parade<\/a><\/p>\n The EU froze around \u20ac18 billion in funds earmarked for Budapest because of democratic backsliding, corruption and the treatment of LGBTQ issues<\/a> under Orban’s rule.<\/p>\n The money could help Magyar revive Hungary’s flagging economy<\/a> and generate goodwill, as Brussels seeks to push ahead with issues previously blocked by Budapest, such as EU membership talks with Ukraine.<\/p>\n “We fought for each cent,” Magyar said, celebrating what he described as a “historic day”.<\/p>\n ‘Subject to reforms’ <\/p>\n The bulk of the frozen funds \u2013 just over \u20ac10 billion of the total \u2013 are from the EU’s Covid-19 recovery fund<\/a>. Hungary had until the end of August to present a new plan to secure them.<\/p>\n Their release was “subject to the reforms that are being adopted” and the implementation of a series of investments that have been agreed on, von der Leyen said.<\/p>\n Until now,\u00a0Magyar has\u00a0mostly announced reforms rather than fully implementing them.<\/p>\n The\u00a0clearest confirmed steps are institutional and anti-corruption measures: he has pledged to create an independent anti-abuse office, restore judicial independence, join the European Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office, and work to unfreeze EU funds by tackling corruption.<\/p>\n One symbolic early act was the new parliamentary leadership ordering the EU flag to be raised again on the parliament building, after an absence of 12 years.<\/p>\n Magyar said Hungary will be able to pass all the laws needed for the EU to release the funds.<\/p>\n The flag of the European Union is seen flying from the Hungarian Parliament on 9 May. AFP – FERENC ISZA <\/p>\n In a similar scenario, the EU unlocked<\/a> billions of euros for Poland in 2024 as soon as the government of pro-European Prime Minister Donald Tusk offered assurances that change was afoot.<\/p>\n While in power, Orban \u2013 a self-described “thorn” in the EU’s side, who maintained close ties to Moscow \u2013 kept the Constitutional Court, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Court of Audit on a tight leash, appointing his allies to run them.<\/p>\n Europe welcomes Magyar victory as Orban concedes defeat in Hungary’s elections<\/a><\/p>\n Magyar, whose party holds a large majority in parliament, has begun initial reforms, with his camp voting on Wednesday<\/a> to drop Orban’s plan to withdraw from the International Criminal Court.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/000-B2C9494.jpg\")
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