Incoming PM Magyar to head to Brussels for urgent EU funds talks with Ursula von der Leyen

Péter Magyar will travel to Brussels on Wednesday for informal discussions with Ursula von der Leyen, focusing on bringing EU funds back to Hungary.

Announcing the visit on social media, the leader of the Tisza Party stressed the urgency of the situation, writing: “We have no time to waste.”

The meeting comes after several phone conversations between the two leaders since Hungary’s 12 April election, which delivered a sweeping victory for Magyar. Von der Leyen reportedly congratulated him on election night and later discussed key priorities, noting that Hungary had “returned to the heart of Europe”.

Billions at stake, tight deadlines

The incoming government faces huge pressure to resolve long-standing disputes with Brussels that have left significant EU funding frozen.

While outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has previously suggested that funding remains secure until 2027, this only applies to certain programmes. In reality, delays and rule-of-law concerns have already led to substantial financial losses, Telex recalls.

Hungary has reportedly forfeited more than EUR 2 billion due to missed deadlines, while further funds remain at risk. By the end of August this year, the country must meet conditions tied to over EUR 10 billion (approximately HUF 3,700 billion) in EU support.

The urgency of these negotiations is one reason why Magyar has pressed President Tamás Sulyok to swiftly grant him a mandate to form a government.

Early diplomatic moves signal shift

Members of Magyar’s prospective cabinet have already begun engaging with EU officials in Brussels over the weekend, with Anita Orbán, András Kármán and Márton Melléthei-Barna in the Belgian capital.

The new leadership appears keen to rebuild trust with EU institutions and secure the funds needed to stabilise Hungary’s finances and support key sectors, including higher education and infrastructure.

Documentary premiere in Italy announced

In a separate announcement, Magyar confirmed he will travel to Italy on 5 May to attend the screening of a documentary about him at the Riviera International Film Festival.

The film, titled Spring Wind (Tavaszi szél), will be shown at the festival in Sestri Levante, which runs from 5 to 10 May and focuses on filmmakers under the age of 35.

According to Magyar, the documentary has already become the most-watched Hungarian documentary in cinemas. It has also attracted 3.3 million views on YouTube within two days and has topped HBO’s viewing charts for the past two weeks.

The film, released on 12 March, was produced by Juno Pictures, founded by Claudia Sümeghy and Tamás Yvan Topolánszky, who also directed the documentary.

The festival, established in 2017, previously awarded Topolánszky best director in 2019 for his biographical film Curtiz: The Hungarian Who Changed Hollywood.

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