EU Delegation Rushes to Budapest to Negotiate €17 Billion in Frozen Funds

A high-level European Commission delegation arrived in Budapest for urgent talks with Péter Magyar's transition team to negotiate the release of approximately €17 billion in frozen EU funds. The funds were withheld under Orbán due to rule-of-law and corruption concerns. Hungary must meet 27 milestones related to judicial independence and anti-corruption by August 2026 to unlock the full €27 billion allocation. Magyar agreed with Commission President von der Leyen to accelerate the process, with judicial reform and media freedom heading the agenda.