Stephen J. By Bose, Worth News Europe Bureau Chief
BUDAPEST (WORTH NEWS) – Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on Saturday that negotiations over suspended EU funds were making “good progress” and he expected to sign a deal in Brussels next week aimed at unlocking billions of euros for Hungary.
Speaking to commercial broadcaster RTL, Magyar said he had recently had several conversations and exchanged letters with Ursula von der Leyen regarding the long-delayed funding.
Hungary is seeking access to billions of euros of blocked or delayed EU funds linked to increased regulation, corruption and governance concerns under former Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The new Hungarian government says the money is urgently needed to stabilize state finances after a rising budget deficit and the economy emerging from recession in the first quarter after years of stagnation.
Magyar said he planned to announce details of the expected agreement during his visit to Brussels on Thursday.
Hungary insists on EU funds
But momentum is most important, and Magyar is urging Brussels to withdraw 17 billion euros ($19.8 billion) of funding that has been blocked under Orban due to concerns about democratic backsliding and rule-of-law issues.
Of that amount, about 10 billion euros must be obtained before August or risk collapse, according to officials familiar with the talks.
During the Brussels visit, Magyar is also expected to meet Mark Rutte and Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever as Hungary looks to rebuild ties with Western allies and European institutions after years of tension with Brussels under Orban.
Hungary’s leader has promised to restore close cooperation with the EU, as well as advance talks with Ukraine on the rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority in western Ukraine, an issue Budapest says remains crucial in Kiev’s path to EU accession.
Magyar said his government expects Hungary’s economy to grow by about 2 percent or slightly more in 2026.
Ukraine talks continue
Separately, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Cybiha and his new Hungarian counterpart, Anita Orban, held their first in-person talks on improving the rights of the approximately 150,000 ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine.
“The ministers reviewed the expert-level consultations held this week on the Hungarian minority in Ukraine and agreed to hold a second round next week,” Sibiha said after meeting Orban – who is not related to former Prime Minister Viktor Orban – on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers’ summit in Helsingborg.
“We both recognize the importance of progress on this track; we want to find creative solutions and achieve concrete results,” Sibiha wrote on social media platform X.
The talks come ahead of an expected meeting next month between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar.
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