Central European river crossing borders and markets
The European Commission has signalled it is ready to release around €10.2 billion of Hungary’s frozen EU funds, including €10 billion in COVID recovery funds and €6.3 billion in cohesion funds, following reforms by Prime Minister Magyar’s government after the 2026 election. Talks with Brussels have accelerated, with a potential disbursement before year-end if milestones are met.
Since his April landslide, Prime Minister Péter Magyar has moved to dismantle Viktor Orbán’s network: parliament has passed a constitutional package that has ended President Tamás Sulyok’s term, forced retirements for senior judges and imposed 12‑year term limits on MPs. Tisza is replacing Orbán appointees, suspending public broadcasters’ newsrooms and creating an anticorruption office.
Hungary’s new government is pursuing investigations into grant-misuse tied to the National Cultural Fund from Orbán’s era. Six current and former officials face charges over about 17 billion forints ($53.5 million) distributed opaquely to artists linked to Fidesz. Pro-government officials say the raids aim to seize party communications systems, a move they call unprecedented since 1990.