To unlock European funds, Hungary must meet 27 conditions, including anti-corruption measures and reversing some decisions from the Orbán era considered contrary to EU norms, from asylum policy to academic freedom, writes Financial Times.
The European Commission has initiated immediate discussions with Péter Magyar, following his victory in the Hungarian elections, urging him to rebuild relations with Ukraine and implement the overdue reforms necessary to unlock 35 billion euros of frozen EU funds.
The removal of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Sunday, whose Russia-friendly eurosceptic regime has been perceived in Brussels and other capitals as a source of hope, marks a possible change of direction for Hungary in the EU and NATO, following years of “illiberal democracy” that has eroded democratic values and blocked common policies.
European officials familiar with the initial discussions between Brussels and Budapest have stated for the cited source that Magyar’s obtaining of a supermajority, with the power to amend the Constitution, has exceeded the Commission’s expectations. However, this has also raised the standards regarding what Brussels expects from the conservative politician.
“We will start working with the government as soon as possible to make rapid progress, for the benefit of the Hungarian people,” declared on Monday the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. However, she warned: “There is much work to do until Hungary returns to the European path.”
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