Hungary's reform progress under its new government will allow the European Commission to unlock previously frozen EU recovery and cohesion funds worth €16.4 billion (roughly $19.1 billion), Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Brussels on Friday.
She was speaking to reporters after talks with Hungary's new Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who defeated his predecessor Viktor Orban in elections last month.
Under Orban's leadership, Budapest and Brussels had frequently clashed — both over domestic Hungarian issues and foreign policy matters like support for Ukraine amid Russia's invasion. Various funds designed to help one of the EU's poorer member states had been frozen for years as a result.
Orban-era policies on issues like judicial reform and LGBTQ rights led to Brussels freezing funding for HungaryImage: Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu/picture alliance
What did Magyar and von der Leyen say about the funds?
