Hungary ties EU budget approval to release of withheld funds

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said that Hungary will only support the European Union’s 2028–2034 budget — including provisions for financing Ukraine — if Brussels releases funds currently withheld from Budapest.

Speaking to Hungarian journalists after an EU summit in Brussels, Orbán made clear that Hungary’s position remains unchanged and was communicated directly to other EU leaders during the meeting.

“First of all, in order to adopt a new budget, the old one must be closed. This means that the funds that have not yet been disbursed must be released. Otherwise, there will be no new budget,” he said, according to a press conference broadcast by M1 television.

Orbán emphasised that Hungary considers the release of previously allocated funds—currently withheld by the European Commission for political reasons—a prerequisite for approving the bloc’s next long-term budget cycle. He indicated that Budapest will not shift its stance despite ongoing negotiations within the EU over future financial frameworks and support mechanisms for Ukraine.

By Tamilla Hasanova