The European Commission says it is in close and constructive talks with the Hungarian government over the country’s huge migration-related fine, as Prime Minister Péter Magyar seeks a way to stop the daily EUR 1 million penalty without abandoning Hungary’s strict border policy.
Brussels responds to Hungary’s request
According to Index, the European Commission has confirmed that it is in contact with the Hungarian authorities over the EUR 1 million-a-day fine imposed on Hungary for breaching EU asylum rules. A Commission spokesperson said on Thursday that discussions with the Hungarian side were taking place “closely and very constructively” when asked about Hungary’s options for resolving the dispute.
The statement came after Prime Minister Péter Magyar repeatedly called for help from Hungary’s European partners over the financial penalty. At the same time, the Hungarian government has made clear that it does not intend to abandon the country’s border fence or significantly loosen its migration policy.
The Commission spokesperson stressed that the fine stems from a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Therefore, Hungary and the court must consider what steps can be taken to resolve the underlying dispute.
Asked whether the fines already imposed on Hungary could potentially be compensated through the EU’s next seven-year budget, the spokesperson again pointed to the need for Hungary to address the concerns identified by the European court.
Péter Magyar wants to keep Hungary’s tough border policy
Speaking at a government press briefing on Thursday, Magyar said that the issue of the migration fine had been discussed with numerous European partners since his government took office. The prime minister described the treatment of Hungary as “extremely unfair”, arguing that the circumstances surrounding migration policy had changed significantly since around 2016.
He also acknowledged that some of the Hungarian legislation challenged by the European Commission had been adopted under the previous government, but argued that EU asylum and migration rules have since become stricter across the bloc.
Magyar said Hungary was not prepared to ease its migration policy, but wanted to find a solution that would comply with European law while maintaining strict border controls. He also said his government wanted to recover the roughly EUR 1 billion that Hungary has already lost through the penalties.
Hungary’s state of emergency expires next week
Another major decision is approaching for the new government. The previous Orbán government extended Hungary’s “state of crisis caused by mass immigration” until 7 September 2026, meaning the measure is due to expire within days.
The emergency regime was first introduced in March 2016 and has been repeatedly extended ever since. The new government must now decide whether to maintain it or allow it to expire. The Hungarian Helsinki Committee has called for the measure to be terminated, arguing that there is no longer a sufficient legal basis for maintaining it.
The organisation stressed that ending the state of crisis would not mean abandoning border protection. It would not require the removal of Hungary’s border fence or the uncontrolled admission of migrants, it said.
Instead, the organisation argues that authorities could return to what it describes as standard, lawful border and immigration procedures, including identifying people, checking their status and examining asylum applications individually.
