Hungary's incoming leader Péter Magyar shakes hands with European Council President Antonio Costa in Brussels, Belgium, April 29, 2026. YVES HERMAN / REUTERS
Incoming Hungarian leader Péter Magyar met EU chiefs on Wednesday, April 29, on his first visit to Brussels since his election win, looking to turn the page on the bad blood of nationalist Viktor Orban's tenure. European Union leaders feted his victory this month, which ended Kremlin-friendly Orban's 16 years in power. Before even taking office, Magyar has sought to kickstart a new era of cooperation with Brussels that he hopes will unlock billions of euros for Budapest.
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The EU-related reforms awaiting Hungary's Péter Magyar
Magyar said in a video posted online that he was "very optimistic and hopeful" ahead of talks with European Commission boss Ursula von der Leyen. He hopes to agree a deal by late May on how to free up some €10 billion in frozen Covid recovery funds, he added. While the 45-year-old will only become prime minister next month, his team has already held two rounds of negotiations with high-ranking EU officials as they look to bring black sheep Budapest back into the fold.
