The European Commission has initiated the first formal contacts with the new Hungarian Government headed by Péter Magyar. According to Brussels, a high-level delegation held technical meetings in Budapest on April 17 and 18 with representatives of the incoming Executive.
The meetings come after the contacts held between the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the designated Prime Minister, at a key moment to redefine the relationship between the European Union and Hungary.
The objective: unlock frozen funds
The conversations focused on advancing several urgent matters, especially the possibility of unblocking European funds allocated to Hungary that remain frozen due to concerns related to corruption and the rule of law.
Brussels considers it a priority to open a new stage of work with the future Hungarian Executive to verify pending reforms and guarantee compliance with community standards.
Political change in Budapest
The arrival of Péter Magyar to power marks a political turn after years of tensions between Brussels and the previous Government of Viktor Orbán, whose term was marked by continuous clashes with European institutions on judicial matters, public freedoms, and the use of community funds.
The Commission stresses that these meetings have been a first technical contact and that the work will continue in the coming weeks.
New phase between Hungary and the EU
The evolution of these negotiations will be closely watched in Brussels. The unlocking of funds would not only have an economic impact for Hungary, but also political value to measure whether the new government is willing to normalize its relationship with the European Union.