Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has demanded that the European Union refund the daily migration fines imposed on his country, arguing that the bloc's stance on border control has shifted as other member states pursue similar policies. The fines, which amount to €1 million per day, stem from a 2024 European Court of Justice ruling that found Hungary had violated EU asylum law under the previous government of Viktor Orbán.
Brussels imposed a lump sum of €200 million plus the daily penalty after Budapest failed to comply with a 2020 ECJ ruling requiring fair treatment for asylum seekers. At the time, Hungary had erected a border fence with Serbia and required asylum applications to be lodged at its consulate in Belgrade, where the vast majority were rejected. The total fines have now reached nearly €1 billion.
Magyar, who won a landslide victory in April's parliamentary election, pledged to resolve the matter quickly. However, since taking office, Hungary has incurred an additional €69 million in penalties. Speaking to Euronews on Thursday, he described the fines as an "over-politicised decision" that is "unacceptable" given the current political climate.
Changing European Attitudes on Migration
"It is clear that the attitude in Europe is changing completely, and now almost every member state, except one or two, wants to act – and will act – much more radically and forcefully in preventing illegal migration," Magyar said. The EU has recently explored externalising migration management, with Italy opening an asylum processing centre in Albania and the European Commission working with third countries to combat irregular entry and facilitate returns, including plans to establish return hubs outside EU territory.
"It is unfair and unacceptable that Hungary, in an entirely new situation, has to pay a million euros a day for a measure that others are also taking – perhaps through lower-level legislation or different mechanisms," Magyar added. His government is now working closely with the European Commission to resolve the daily fines while continuing to keep migrants outside Hungary's borders.
The prime minister also called on the EU to reimburse the fines paid to date, along with €2 billion in post-pandemic recovery funds that were withheld over missed deadlines in 2024 and 2025. "We will not let this money go to waste. The solution is urgent, but we will ask for this money back. I believe we will get it, since the budget requires a unanimous decision," Magyar said.
The EU is aiming to finalise its next seven-year budget by the end of the year, a process that requires approval from all 27 member states. Magyar's demands come amid broader tensions between Budapest and Brussels over rule-of-law issues, including delays in judicial reforms that have put Hungary's Erasmus+ reintegration at risk.
Critics argue that Magyar's push for a refund is opportunistic, given that his government has not yet fully complied with the ECJ ruling. However, the prime minister insists that the fines are a relic of a different era and that Hungary should not be penalised for policies now adopted by others. The outcome of the budget negotiations will be closely watched as a test of Magyar's ability to secure concessions from Brussels.
