Fidesz MEPs are demanding the European Union immediately and unconditionally release billions of euros in funding for Hungary, while also calling for more money for border protection and agriculture.
The Fidesz-KDNP group in the European Parliament has called for the immediate and unconditional payment of all EU funds allocated to Hungary, arguing that money negotiated by Viktor Orbán’s government has been withheld for political reasons.
In a statement sent to Hungary’s state news agency MTI on Monday, the group said it wanted the EU’s 2027 budget increased by EUR 11 billion. Tamás Deutsch, a Fidesz MEP and member of the European Parliament’s Budget Committee, submitted the proposal on behalf of the Hungarian delegation.
Fidesz demands billions in frozen EU funds
According to Fidesz, around 55% of the funding under three Hungarian operational programmes – approximately EUR 6.3 billion – was frozen in 2022 for political reasons. The party is now demanding that not only the post-pandemic recovery funds but also Hungary’s entire cohesion funding allocation be paid without conditions.
Fidesz stressed that an Orbán-led delegation negotiated EUR 22 billion in cohesion funding for Hungary in December 2020, in addition to the EU’s recovery fund. The party claims that part of this money has subsequently been withheld by the European Commission and what it called the European Parliament’s “liberal majority”.
The statement also called for a EUR 2.5 billion increase in the Common Agricultural Policy budget, with additional support for young farmers, the wine sector and beekeepers.
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More EU money for border protection
The Hungarian delegation within the European Parliament’s Patriots group is also seeking major changes to EU spending on migration. It wants EUR 1 billion removed from what it describes as the EU’s “failed” migration policy and EUR 2 billion more allocated to border protection. The group is specifically demanding reimbursement for Hungary’s border-protection costs.
“We demand that the illegally forced-through migration pact be reviewed and withdrawn,” Fidesz-KDNP said.
The group is also seeking to double the EU’s agricultural crisis fund from EUR 450 million to EUR 900 million, citing the damage caused by drought. It said recent dry conditions had reduced cereal and maize yields by 20–30%, while livestock farmers have also been struggling with damaged pastures and soaring feed prices.
Fidesz also targets Erasmus funding
Fidesz-KDNP has once again proposed placing Erasmus funding for Hungary’s foundation-run universities into reserve until the European Commission releases the money.
The issue has already begun to change, however. Education Minister Judit Lannert announced last week that Erasmus will return to Hungary’s universities from the 2026/2027 academic year, with students at all 21 universities previously affected by restrictions once again able to participate.
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Fidesz nevertheless accused the Tisza government of failing to resolve the dispute and called for the Commission to immediately lift the restrictions.
The group also proposed cutting EUR 250 million from EU funding programmes supporting what it described as “left-wing” civil society organisations, arguing that member states should not face politically motivated pressure from EU institutions.
