European Commission officials are due to meet Friday with Peter Magyar, whose Tisza party won a supermajority in Hungary’s elections on Sunday. Photo by Tibor Illyes/EPA
Officials from the European Commission arrived in Budapest for Friday talks with Péter Magyar, who will take office as Hungary’s new prime minister in early May.
European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho confirmed on Thursday that the meeting is occurring just five days after Magyar’s Tisza party won a landslide election against current Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party.
The planned topics of conversation include the potential unfreezing of $20.1 billion in EU funds, $11.8 billion of which are due to expire in August. The frozen funds require Hungary to implement reforms including fighting corruption and affirming the rights of asylum and academic freedom. Magyar previously announced a plan to meet the conditions on Monday.
The European Commission team is also expected to raise the topic of a $106.4 billion EU loan to Ukraine, which Orbán previously vetoed.
Orbán, who spent 16 years in power, said he will not attend next week’s EU summit.
Magyar’s party won a supermajority in Sunday’s election, but experts said Tisza will have to contend with remnants of Fidesz’s tenure including federal and judicial positions packed with Orbán loyalists.
Orbán said he will continue to head Fidesz until the party’s leadership election in June.
Historic April moments through the years
Children race to push colored eggs across the grass during the annual Easter Egg Roll event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on April 21, 2025. Easter this year takes place on April 5. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo
