The European Parliament is reportedly preparing to end its long-running Article 7 procedure against Hungary, potentially marking a dramatic shift in relations between Budapest and Brussels following Viktor Orbán’s election defeat.

Hungary’s Article 7 procedure could be coming to an end

The European Parliament is on course to withdraw the EU’s so-called “nuclear option” against Hungary, according to Euronews, as lawmakers increasingly recognise reforms introduced under Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s new government.

The Article 7 procedure was launched by MEPs in 2018 over concerns about the rule of law and alleged breaches of EU values under Viktor Orbán’s government. Among the issues raised were judicial independence, corruption, media freedom, fundamental rights and the treatment of minorities and migrants.

But Orbán’s defeat in April’s election and the arrival of Magyar’s Tisza government have dramatically changed the political environment.

Several MEPs and European Parliament officials reportedly believe that many of the concerns underpinning the procedure have now been addressed, with a senior member of the European People’s Party (EPP) saying that it would be “reasonable” for the procedure to end soon.

The EPP, the Parliament’s largest political group, is reportedly prepared to support the move. Magyar’s Tisza Party is a member of the European political family.

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Decision could come after October mission

The potential withdrawal is not expected to happen immediately. A European Parliament fact-finding mission is scheduled to visit Hungary in late October. MEPs are expected to meet government representatives, public institutions, civil society organisations, stakeholders and NGOs as they assess the country’s current rule-of-law situation.

The delegation will then prepare a report on its findings. Dutch MEP Tineke Strik, who is leading the Article 7 file, expects the report to be completed in early 2027. Some Parliament officials, however, believe a recommendation to end the procedure could come as early as December.

Strik has stressed that the assessment will follow a set of specific criteria rather than simply reflecting Hungary’s change of government. One important issue will be the fate of Hungary’s controversial 2021 child protection law, which restricts minors’ access to certain books, films and other content depicting or promoting homosexuality or gender transition.

Hungary’s government has so far neither repealed the legislation nor announced plans to do so. The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in April 2026 that the law breached EU law and the bloc’s fundamental values, according to Brussels Signal.

A two-thirds majority is needed

Ending the Article 7 procedure will not be automatic. At least two-thirds of the European Parliament’s 719 members – meaning a minimum of 480 MEPs – must support the withdrawal.

The EPP’s 184 lawmakers are expected to back the move, while conservative and right-wing groups are also likely to support it. The European Conservatives and Reformists, Patriots for Europe and Europe of Sovereign Nations together have almost 200 MEPs.

However, the centre-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and liberal Renew Europe groups could hold the decisive votes. Both groups have acknowledged that Hungary has made progress, but have warned that any decision must be based on a comprehensive assessment of the country’s legislation and actual reforms.

Renew Europe MEP Sandro Gozi told Euronews that ending the procedure must be based on “real changes”, warning that otherwise it could appear to be merely a political decision.

From Orbán-era confrontation to a new relationship?

The possible end of Article 7 would represent a major change in Hungary’s relationship with Brussels. The procedure has only been triggered twice in the EU’s history. The European Commission launched one against Poland in 2017, while the European Parliament initiated the Hungarian procedure a year later.

Neither case reached the final sanctions stage, which would require unanimous backing from EU member states to suspend a country’s voting rights. The Polish procedure was closed in 2024 after Donald Tusk’s coalition replaced the Law and Justice government and began implementing reforms demanded by the European Commission.

Hungary could now be heading down a similar path under Magyar. The new government has already agreed to a reform package with the European Commission, while Brussels unblocked around EUR 16.4 billion in frozen EU funding in May.

If the European Parliament ultimately votes to end Article 7, it could provide Magyar with a significant political victory – and signal that the EU considers Hungary’s post-Orbán government to be moving substantially closer to European rule-of-law standards. But the October fact-finding mission, the fate of the child protection law and the crucial two-thirds parliamentary majority mean that the final outcome is far from guaranteed.