In response to claims suggesting that Hungary had successfully secured billions of euros in previously frozen European Union funds, the European Commission has clarified that this is not the case. The Commission stated that Hungary has yet to submit an official payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), which is a necessary step before any funds can be disbursed. This request must be submitted by Hungary no later than September 30, 2026, according to the guidelines provided by the EU.
The Commission has emphasized that it will only begin assessing Hungary’s compliance with the required reforms and “super milestones” once the official payment request has been received. This indicates that the evaluation process is still pending, and as of now, there has been no confirmation from the Commission that all conditions for fund release have been satisfied.
Under the RRF framework, Hungary is obligated to present proof that it has implemented the necessary reforms and investments. Following the submission, the European Commission will scrutinize the documentation thoroughly before any funds can be approved and released. This process ensures that all criteria are met before the allocation of funds.
While all payments that gain approval are scheduled to be disbursed by December 31, 2026, the Commission has warned that any issues found in Hungary’s submission could necessitate additional documentation or corrections, potentially delaying the process. This procedural caution highlights the importance of accuracy and completeness in the submission from Hungary.
The current situation stems from recent assertions by Hungary’s TISZA government, which claimed that the nation had effectively secured the frozen EU funding. However, the European Commission’s recent statements make it clear that the funds have not been transferred, and the definitive assessment of Hungary’s compliance with EU conditions is still underway.
