Hungary threatens EU over blocked funds
Hungary has expressed strong confidence in reclaiming all funds currently blocked by the European Union.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán warned that failure to release the funds could result in Hungary vetoing the EU's next seven-year budget, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.
Orbán highlighted the €12.5 billion currently frozen in Hungary's accounts, funds he asserts are critical for the Hungarian economy through 2026.
“These €12.5 billion fulfil the requirements of the Hungarian economy until the end of 2026. We are entitled to more money besides these; that will already be a problem after 2026. In my opinion, we will certainly get them too,” Orbán stated.
He stressed that unanimity is required to approve the post-2027 budget.
“The money we did not get in 2025-2026, we will have to get in 2027-2028; otherwise, there will be no budget. We will not approve it,” he warned.
Reports suggest Hungary risks losing around €1 billion withheld by the EU if it fails to meet Brussels' demands for democracy and rule-of-law reforms by year-end. European Commissioner for Budget Peter Serafin noted that Hungary’s actions to secure funding fell short of expectations.
Currently, the EU is withholding €22 billion in funds earmarked for Hungary, citing unmet reforms related to governance and democracy. Budapest, however, maintains it has fulfilled the EU's conditions and accuses EU leadership of deliberately stalling to weaken Orbán’s government.
An EU diplomat remarked on the significance of the withheld funds, saying, "It’s a lot of money for any country, but especially for Hungary.”
By Tamilla Hasanova