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ER Editor: More of the EU circus vis-a-vis Hungary. A reminder: we’re watching a show.
An initial reading of this article suggests another fight between Hungary and the EU v2.0, where the EU’s outrageousness gets more exposure.
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Brussels piles the conditions on Hungary to unlock EU funds — could Magyar’s honeymoon be over before it’s even started?
Brussels makes it clear: to be “welcomed back into Europe,” Hungary will need to play by its rules
THOMAS BROOKE for REMIX NEWS
The incoming Hungarian government faces an immediate challenge to its election pledges, with Brussels making clear that unlocking billions in EU funds will require sweeping changes that contradict much of Péter Magyar’s campaign promises.
According to the Financial Times, Hungary must meet 27 separate conditions to access roughly €35 billion in frozen EU funding — including the lifting of its veto on Russian sanctions and rolling back policies on asylum. These demands directly challenge Magyar’s pledges to prioritize national sovereignty and maintain tight border controls.
The scale of the task has quickly become a political reality check. While Magyar campaigned on improving relations with Brussels and unlocking funds withheld under Viktor Orbán, who remained defiant in his protection of national sovereignty in the face of Brussels’ demands, the terms attached to that money remain unchanged — and leave little room to maneuver.
The European Commission has already begun “immediate engagement” with Budapest, signaling both urgency and expectation. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Brussels was ready to work with the new government but stressed that Hungary must return to what she described as the “European path,” underlining that reforms will come first, funding later.
The U.K. broadsheet cited EU officials who said Magyar’s landslide victory — which has likely resulted in a two-thirds majority enabling his party to more easily amend the constitution — has raised expectations further. Diplomats indicate that early signals of alignment will be closely watched, particularly on Ukraine. Key tests include lifting Hungary’s veto on new Russia sanctions and backing a €90 billion EU loan package for Kyiv, both of which were blocked under Orbán.
At home, the Commission expects structural reforms across the judiciary, public institutions, and state-controlled sectors. Around €18 billion of EU budget funds remain frozen over rule-of-law concerns, while a further €17 billion in defense-related financing is also being withheld.
Another major sticking point is Hungary’s refusal to comply with a European Court of Justice ruling on asylum policy, a dispute that is already costing Budapest €1 million per day in fines, with the total approaching €900 million.
On Monday, Magyar signaled he will not fully abandon positions that helped deliver his victory, but how long this stance can be upheld remains to be seen.
He has backed the Ukraine loan in principle, but only if Hungary keeps an opt-out from contributing financially, secured by Orbán last year. He has also indicated the country will continue purchasing Russian energy where it is cheapest, maintaining that “geography is geography,” and has suggested sanctions on Moscow should eventually be reconsidered to avoid economic damage. He expressed a similar line to Orbán, stating, “I understand the moral issues … but let’s not shoot ourselves in the leg.”
On EU expansion, he has ruled out supporting Ukraine’s accession in the near future, arguing membership is unrealistic while the country remains at war and unlikely within the next decade.
Magyar has also reiterated that Hungary will retain control over its borders, pointing to continued resistance to elements of the EU’s migration framework — another area where Brussels is demanding changes.
What will change for the European Union if Peter Magyar becomes PM?
“There will be a much more constructive dialogue between Hungary and the European Union, but will always serve the Hungarian interests. Strict against illegal migration, and adopting anti-corruption measures.” pic.twitter.com/5d2eLEidnk
— NXT EU (@NXT4EU) March 15, 2026
During the election campaign, the Tisza leader said, “There will be a much more constructive dialogue between Hungary and the European Union, but it will always serve the Hungarian interests.” That balancing act now appears far more constrained.
The FT noted that Brussels remains wary after its experience with Poland — where funds withheld from the previous conservative administration were released to liberal Prime Minister Donald Tusk quickly, only for some reforms to be thwarted by President Karol Nawrocki — and it is now taking a harder line.
“The mindset is: let’s double down on him. If they deliver, we deliver,” one EU official told the broadsheet.
The result is a stark early test for Magyar. While he benefited from being seen as a break from Orbán, the response from Brussels suggests the underlying disputes remain unchanged. If he wants to deliver on his central promise of unlocking EU money and boosting the economy, he will have to comply with conditions that sit uneasily with many of his own positions — a double-edged sword that could see his honeymoon period over before it has even started.
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Featured image source: https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260413-after-orban-what-magyar-victory-means-for-hungary-and-the-eu
Featured image source: https://www.politico.eu/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-european-parliament-no-confidence-vote-2/
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