European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU could release up to €10 billion for Hungary after agreeing a revised NextGenerationEU investment plan with the country’s new government led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, subject to reforms being adopted and investments implemented.
Von der Leyen stated during a press conference with Magyar on Friday that the Commission and the Hungarian government had agreed “a robust architecture” to address corruption and rule of law concerns, including Hungary’s decision to join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, an EU body that investigates and prosecutes fraud involving EU funds.
She said Hungary had also agreed to strengthen its Integrity Authority to better detect corruption and conflicts of interest, and to revise public procurement rules to curb fraud and protect public money.
Von der Leyen added that Hungary would phase out “Public Interest Trusts” — arrangements used to manage institutions and assets — after the Commission raised concerns about the risk of “state capture”, her term for undue political control over public resources.
Cohesion funding and Erasmus return
The Commission president said progress had also been made on EU Cohesion funding, adding that €4.2 billion in conditionality-related Cohesion funds had been unlocked following what she described as progress on “super milestones” — key reform targets linked to EU payments.
She emphasised that further steps on “academic freedom” would unlock another €2.2 billion of Cohesion funds, with Hungary set to gradually phase out the Public Interest Trusts and pass legislation to address conflict-of-interest and integrity concerns.
Von der Leyen said more steps were still needed on Hungary’s “child protection law”, without giving details.
Hungarian students will be able to take part in the Erasmus exchange programme again from the next academic year, von der Leyen noted.
