Hungary's Magyar heads to Brussels to reset EU ties and unlock frozen funds

Péter Magyar is heading to Brussels for talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as Hungary's new government tries to repair ties with the EU and secure access to frozen recovery funds.

The visit is tied to efforts to unlock about €10 billion in EU money before an August deadline. Reporting on Wednesday said Magyar plans to meet von der Leyen on Friday in Brussels.

The European Commission said in April that technical meetings with the incoming Hungarian government were intended to make progress on unfreezing EU funds. The latest reporting suggests those talks have now moved to the political level.

What is at stake

The money has been held back over corruption and rule-of-law concerns. Budapest is now seeking a broader reset with Brussels, including on issues linked to reforms, the Erasmus+ programme and Ukraine policy.

The timing matters because the government faces a deadline in August. If no agreement is reached, some or all of the funds could remain frozen.

Earlier reporting this month said Magyar hoped to sign a political agreement with the Commission. The Brussels trip now gives both sides a chance to test whether there is enough common ground for a deal.

No agreement has yet been announced, and the outcome of the talks remains open.