European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that EU funds are once again accessible to Hungary, while European Council President António Costa emphasised the importance of democracy, national sovereignty and European unity. Both leaders addressed a commemorative session of the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest on Friday, marking the 70th anniversary of the 1956 anti-Soviet revolution.
Von der Leyen: EU funds are returning to Hungary
Speaking at the Hungarian Parliament on 23 October, Ursula von der Leyen praised the reforms introduced by Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s government, saying they were already delivering tangible results.
According to the European Commission president, Hungary has strengthened legislation against fraud and corruption, improved transparency in public spending and is joining the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
“European funding is back,” von der Leyen declared, confirming that access to the Horizon Europe research programme had been restored and Hungarian students could once again participate fully in Erasmus.
She also indicated that further progress was expected before the end of 2026, including developments concerning NextGenerationEU recovery funding and financial resources linked to academic freedom.
“So, your hard work is paying off. Investor confidence is returning,” she said, adding that Hungary’s renewed commitment to the European project was strengthening the EU as a whole.
Her remarks signal an important development in Hungary’s relationship with Brussels following years of disputes over rule-of-law concerns and the suspension of substantial EU funding. However, the announcement did not specify the precise amount of additional funding to be released by the end of the year.
Hungary’s democratic renewal sends a message to Europe
In her full address published by the European Commission, von der Leyen drew parallels between the courage of the 1956 revolutionaries and Hungary’s recent political transformation.
Referring to the April 2026 parliamentary election, she highlighted the exceptionally high voter turnout and described the result as the beginning of a new chapter for the country.
She argued that Hungary had demonstrated that democratic decline could be reversed and that disinformation and fearmongering could be overcome through democratic participation.
Von der Leyen also recalled the bravery of the students and workers who confronted Soviet oppression seven decades earlier. Their struggle, she stressed, illustrated why democracy and freedom could never be taken for granted.
She concluded by invoking French writer Albert Camus, who had called for European solidarity following the Hungarian uprising, underlining the responsibility of today’s Europeans to preserve unity.
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Costa: Democracies must never give way to tyranny
European Council President António Costa likewise placed the historical significance of 1956 at the centre of his address.
“The memory of the 1956 Revolution is also a reminder that democracies must not be complacent in the face of tyranny and imperialism,” Costa said.
He described the uprising as an expression of the Hungarian people’s determination to defend independence and self-determination, linking it to other decisive moments in the country’s history, including the revolutions of 1848 and the democratic transition of 1989.
Costa also emphasised that European integration should not come at the expense of national identity. Rather, the EU’s diversity of languages, cultures, histories and traditions strengthens cooperation among its members.
EU membership has transformed Hungary’s economy
In his official speech published by the European Council, Costa highlighted the economic benefits of Hungary’s accession to the EU in 2004.
He noted that Hungary’s economy had nearly tripled in size over the past 22 years, while average salaries had increased fivefold.
According to Costa, almost 80% of Hungarian exports go to EU countries, while nearly 70% of imports originate from other member states, illustrating Hungary’s integration into the European single market.
However, he argued that economic prosperity was inseparable from democratic institutions, transparent governance, freedom of expression and academic freedom.
Costa also cited figures suggesting that 80% of Hungarians regard the European Union as a source of stability and consider membership highly beneficial.
The legacy of 1956 and Hungary’s European future
The speeches came exactly seven decades after the outbreak of the Hungarian Revolution on 23 October 1956, when demonstrators demanded political freedom and an end to Soviet domination. The uprising was subsequently crushed by Soviet military intervention, forcing approximately 200,000 Hungarians to flee their homeland.
Although von der Leyen focused more heavily on Hungary’s reforms and the restoration of access to EU funds, both European leaders presented the anniversary as a reminder of the connection between democracy, prosperity and European cooperation.
Their messages also reflected a broader shift in relations between Budapest and Brussels following Hungary’s change of government earlier this year.
For Hungary, the immediate significance lies in renewed opportunities for European funding, education and research. For the EU, the anniversary offered an opportunity to reaffirm the shared democratic values that both leaders identified as central to Europe’s future.
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Was anyone from Fidesz there to listen to Ursula von der Leyen in Parliament describe Hungary’s return to rule of law? It would be like showing up in church with a Sunday morning hangover with the priest or pastor sermonizing on the evils of drinking.