Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar held talks with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in Brussels on Thursday, describing the meeting as successful and highlighting what he called a shared commitment to bringing Hungary’s long-running Article 7 procedure to a close by the autumn.
The meeting took place during Magyar’s first European Union summit as prime minister, aiming to rebuild relations with European institutions following years of tensions between Budapest and Brussels.
A symbolic welcome in Brussels
Metsola shared a short video of the meeting on social media. The footage showed Magyar arriving alongside Foreign Minister Anita Orbán and Hungary’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Bálint Ódor.
The encounter featured a light-hearted moment when Metsola jokingly remarked “another entrance” as Magyar was welcomed through the doorway typically reserved for visiting heads of state and government. The comment referred to his previous visits to the European Parliament as an MEP before becoming Hungary’s prime minister.
Agreement on Article 7 procedure
Following the talks, Magyar announced on social media that he and Metsola agreed that the Article 7 procedure launched against Hungary in 2018 should be concluded within the coming months.
The procedure was initiated over concerns about rule-of-law and democratic standards under Hungary’s previous government. Although Article 7 can theoretically lead to the suspension of certain membership rights within the EU, the process has remained largely stalled since its launch eight years ago.
“President Metsola and I agreed that the procedure initiated against Hungary because of the anti-democratic and anti-rule-of-law measures of the previous government should be closed by autumn,” Magyar wrote.
The Article 7 process was triggered by the European Parliament’s adoption of the so-called Sargentini Report in 2018. While the mechanism runs separately from financial disputes between Hungary and the EU, it remains one of the most politically sensitive issues in Hungary’s relationship with the bloc.
Recent developments suggest momentum may be building. Dutch Green MEP Tineke Strik, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the Hungarian case, recently indicated that an EP delegation is expected to visit Hungary in October to assess reforms and consult stakeholders. The findings could potentially lead to a recommendation to withdraw the procedure.
Péter Magyar invited Metsola to Hungary
Magyar also revealed that he had invited Metsola to visit Hungary officially. In addition, the two leaders agreed that the Hungarian prime minister would deliver a speech at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg later this year.
The planned appearance would provide Péter Magyar with an opportunity to present his government’s priorities directly to MEPs and outline Budapest’s vision for Hungary’s future role within the European Union.
EU funding dispute also on the agenda
Ahead of the meeting, Péter Magyar indicated that discussions would not be limited to Article 7. He also intended to address the ongoing legal dispute concerning EU funds that have been frozen or partially blocked in recent years.
The issue remains highly significant for Hungary. Earlier this year, an Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union recommended annulling a 2023 decision that had partially unlocked certain Hungarian funds. However, neither Magyar nor Metsola publicly commented on the matter after their talks.
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Packed schedule at first EU summit
The Brussels visit forms part of a busy programme for the Hungarian prime minister. Alongside meetings with EU leaders, Péter Magyar is expected to hold talks with representatives of the Visegrád Group, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and leaders of countries that are major beneficiaries of EU cohesion funding.
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Featured image: Péter Magyar/Facebook
