Top EU officials and Hungary’s new government will meet on Wednesday to discuss what Budapest must change to access 17 billion euros in EU funds that are currently blocked due to rule-of-law issues under the previous government. Among these funds is 11 billion euros ($13 billion) from the post-pandemic Recovery Fund, which must be utilized by mid-August to avoid being permanently lost.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Hungary’s incoming prime minister Peter Magyar will attend the discussions. There have already been two meetings since Magyar’s Tisza party won a two-thirds majority in the April 12 election, allowing him to change the constitution quickly to free up the funds. The EU aims to work closely with the new government to ensure that actions are taken promptly for the benefit of the Hungarian people.
The talks will focus on unblocking the funds and may also address Hungary’s return to the Erasmus student-exchange program and the lifting of a veto on EU refunds for military aid sent to Ukraine since 2022.
With information from Reuters
