Hungary's Magyar Pushes Back on Pension and Tax Reforms as EU Commission Sends 20-Strong Team to Budapest

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar pushed back against European Commission demands for pension system and tax reform as preconditions for unfreezing approximately €17 billion in EU cohesion and Recovery and Resilience Facility funds, a Euronews report on May 22 revealed. A delegation of over 20 Commission experts arrived in Budapest for a week-long technical review of Hungary's compliance with 27 rule-of-law 'supermilestones', concluding May 22. A Commission official stated the delegation's size reflects 'von der Leyen's personal commitment' to the process. Despite Magyar's pushback on structural economic reforms, a breakthrough on Hungary's participation in the ERASMUS+ student exchange programme appeared within reach. Hungary faces an August 31, 2026 deadline to complete all supermilestones under its Recovery and Resilience Plan or risk losing its entire €10.4 billion allocation. Article 7 proceedings against Hungary — initiated in 2018 — remain formally open but are expected to be wound down as Magyar's government advances rule-of-law reforms.