Hungary has not received EU cohesion funds for 161 days
According to reports, Hungary has not received any EU cohesion funds for 161 days. Of the EUR 21.8 billion allocated for the 2021-2027 budget cycle, only 8.3% has been disbursed so far. Ongoing conflicts between the Hungarian government and EU leadership have stopped further payments, while the country risks losing substantial funds due to unresolved legal and political issues.
Hungary’s 161 days without cohesion funds
Hungary has been excluded from receiving EU cohesion funds since 26 June 2024. The total funding allocated to Hungary under the 2021-2027 EU budget amounts to EUR 21.8 billion, which could exceed HUF 10,000 billion when combined with national co-financing, Index reports according to information from the Ministry of Public Administration and Regional Development. However, political disputes and legal penalties imposed by the EU have restricted Hungary’s access to 56% of this amount, leaving the country with only EUR 12.19 billion available.
To date, Hungary has received EUR 1.8 billion, roughly 8.3% of its allocated funds, placing it ninth among EU countries in terms of received funding. Payments were halted following a 13 June ruling by the European Court of Justice, which fined Hungary EUR 200 million and imposed a daily penalty of EUR 1 million for failing to comply with EU asylum and return policies. This has already cost Hungary over EUR 370 million, with losses potentially exceeding EUR 1 billion by the end of the year unless the rule-of-law conditionality mechanism is resolved.
The prolonged funding freeze has exacerbated Hungary’s economic challenges. According to an interview with opposition Tisza Party leader Péter Magyar published by Bloomberg, unlocking EU funds could alleviate the economic crisis, with proposals for reforms including steering the country towards euro adoption.
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Fidesz corruption costs Hungarians a lot of money. If you vote for them in 2026 you will get more of the same but you can be happy if you allow yourself to be fooled by Orban’s claim that he preserves your “sovereignty” from Brussels. Enjoy your “sovereignty”.
It won’t receive a dime until there’s a change of government. What’s interesting is that the government appears to have come to the same conclusion and shrugs its shoulders, despite the fact the sums of money involved are momumental for any country of Hungary’s size, much more so for a country kept afloat by a Chinese life support machine. A collapsing currency and its creditworthiness now on negative watch by Moody’s. Like Argentina, Hungary loves to play hard and fast in high stakes games. I can tell you one thing, it won’t win.
One wonders what Hungary gets out of being a “part”/more like the punching bag/ of a failing entity like the EU? 🙁
Hungary is being blackmailed by the corrupt EU-clique.
At this point, what is the point of continued membership of the E.U.?!? These people are authoritarian, despotic, corrupt bullies. Freedom of movement and commerce simply doesn’t cut it anymore.
To add insult to injury, some of this is Hungary’s own money that it had paid into the E.U.rotrash coffers.
@michaelsteiner … Please do check – we are still receiving significantly more from the EU than we are putting in …
And as soon as we would leave the Customs Union – that would be the proverbial “it” for our industry. Our biggest market is the EU. Think mass exodus.
Since @mariavontheresa has not managed to do so, yet – perhaps you could list the three top benefits (just 3) of Brexit? They showed the way!
Fidesz’ corruption and Orbán’s insistence on not complying with EU’s reasonable demands only expose how he is more committed to keep favoring his gang of oligarchs than to defends the best interests of people. For a country that depends so much on the money from the EU, Orbán has been too ungrateful and reluctant to cooperate with them, and his insistence on protection and favoring the undefendable Putin further jeopardizes his stance.
No one believes anymore the excuses that this is Brussels’ fault, this lie aged like milk. Everyone is tired of this clown show. I fully support that Brussels should withhold all funds as long as Fidesz still has majority in the Parliament – it’s sad that some Hungarians still haven’t learned this lesson and they’re making us all suffer through this.