Members of the European Parliament from Hungary’s Fidesz-KDNP party are urging the European Union to promptly release funds that have been withheld from the country. According to these Hungarian MEPs, around €6.3 billion, which is tied to three Hungarian operational programmes, has been frozen since 2022. This amount represents approximately 55% of the funds initially allocated under these programmes. Furthermore, the MEPs are calling for the release of finances from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, established post-pandemic, alongside Hungary’s broader cohesion funds.
The MEPs highlighted that Hungary had secured negotiations for about €22 billion in additional cohesion funding back in 2020. They have accused European institutions of holding back portions of this funding for political reasons. Alongside these demands, the MEPs are advocating for an €11 billion increase in the EU budget for 2027, with a specific allocation of an additional €2.5 billion designated for the Common Agricultural Policy. This proposal aims to bolster support for young farmers, the wine industry, and beekeeping initiatives.
In addition to the financial demands, Hungarian members of the Patriots for Europe group have put forward a proposal to double the EU agricultural crisis fund from €450 million to €900 million. This suggestion comes in response to recent challenges, including crop losses due to drought and increasing costs faced by livestock farmers. The group believes that such an increase is necessary to address these pressing issues.
At the same time, the group is advocating for heightened funding for border protection, including the reimbursement of Hungary’s border-control expenses. They are also requesting a review of the EU migration pact to better align with Hungary’s needs. Moreover, they are calling for the reinstatement of Erasmus funding for Hungarian university students who have been affected by current restrictions on their participation in the programme.
Furthermore, the Fidesz-KDNP delegation has suggested cutting EU funding for civil society organisations by €250 million. They argue that these organisations exert politically motivated pressure on member states, which they believe should be curtailed. This proposal adds another layer to their extensive list of financial adjustments and policy revisions they are seeking within the EU framework.