In an unprecedented move, the European Commission has sent a senior delegation to Budapest for informal talks with Hungary's incoming government from the Tisza Party, led by Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar. The talks, held over two days ending Saturday, mark the first direct contact between Brussels and the future administration after Tisza's landslide election victory ended Viktor Orbán's 16-year rule.
The Commission's team, headed by Björn Seibert, chief of staff to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and including several director-generals, met with Tisza representatives in the Hungarian capital. The decision to bypass the outgoing Orbán government was a pointed political signal, underscoring the EU's readiness to engage with a new leadership committed to rule-of-law reforms.
"There is full agreement on one point: real work must begin to ensure that the EU funds due to the Hungarian people finally arrive in Hungary," Magyar said in a social media statement after the talks. The Commission echoed this, noting that the meetings were "an early opportunity for practical discussions on how to move forward and make real progress to unlock EU funds earmarked for Hungary that are frozen due to corruption and rule of law concerns."
Race Against Time for Recovery Funds
The immediate priority is the €10.4 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), which Hungary risks losing entirely if no agreement is reached by the end of August. A Tisza Party source directly involved in the talks told Euronews on condition of anonymity: "Time is running out for the RRF. If the deadline was not set for the end of August, the EU delegation would not have visited so early. Hungary is on the verge of losing a lot of money, and the Commission understands this and took action."
Beyond the RRF, the Commission has blocked €17 billion of the €27 billion earmarked for Hungary over rule-of-law deficiencies and corruption. Hungary is also seeking €17 billion from the EU's joint defence borrowing instrument, SAFE, to modernise its defence industry. Should both tranches reach Hungary, totalling €34 billion, the economic impact would be significant.
Magyar has outlined a four-step plan to unlock the funds, focusing on combating corruption, restoring judicial independence, and safeguarding press and academic freedom. "We intend to fully deliver on these commitments once in government, including our promise to bring home the EU funds that rightfully belong to Hungarians," he said. Tisza officials say the party's electoral programme, which includes joining the European Public Prosecutor's Office, goes beyond what the Commission has required.
Reforms and Ukraine Linkage
To unfreeze the blocked €17 billion, Hungary must fulfil 27 so-called super-milestones. A European Commission source, speaking anonymously, said the remaining open issues could be resolved through amendments passed in a single parliamentary session, provided there is political will in Budapest. The new government is expected to take office in May.
All outstanding disputes between the Orbán government and the EU were addressed during the talks, including Orbán's blocking of the EU's €90 billion loan to Ukraine and the opening of accession negotiation chapters for Kyiv. Both Tisza and the Commission have indicated that Ukraine-related matters will not be linked to the question of funds. "It is impossible to connect the two issues, as the requirements related to the funds are clearly defined," the Tisza source said, adding that deeper reforms should not be rushed and will be a longer-term undertaking.
The Tisza delegation included future foreign minister Anita Orbán, finance minister-designate András Kármán, economy minister-designate István Kapitány, Tisza vice president Zoltán Tarr, and the party's Brussels chief of staff and EU expert Márton Hajdu. Party leader and prime minister-designate Péter Magyar joined the first part of the talks.
Work is also under way to overhaul Hungary's Recovery and Resilience Plan, which covers green transition, digital transformation, and energy projects. Priority areas include modernising the country's railway network and suburban lines, and upgrading the electricity grid. "We need to assess which reforms and investments can be practically implemented. The next government will deliver elements of the Tisza electoral manifesto within the RRP framework," the Tisza source said.
This development follows a period of strained relations between Brussels and Budapest under Orbán. For more on the political shift, see Péter Magyar's Victory in Hungary Reshapes Budapest's Stance Towards Brussels. Meanwhile, misinformation campaigns have targeted Magyar despite his election win, as reported in Misinformation Targets Hungary's Péter Magyar Despite Election Victory.
