The European Commission has unequivocally dismissed suggestions that Hungary has secured or received billions in European Union funds that were previously frozen. Contrary to the claims, Hungary has not yet filed its official payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), a prerequisite for accessing the funds. The country has been given a deadline until September 30, 2026, to submit the necessary documentation, according to the Commission.
The Commission clarified that it would only begin assessing Hungary’s compliance with the required reforms and “super milestones” upon receiving the official payment request. As of now, the review process remains incomplete, and there is no confirmation that all conditions for releasing the funds have been satisfied. This process involves Hungary providing evidence that the necessary reforms and investments have been made, after which the European Commission will scrutinize the submission before any funds are approved for disbursement.
Any payments that the Commission approves will be made by the deadline of December 31, 2026. However, should there be any issues within Hungary’s submission, officials could request additional documentation or corrections, potentially delaying the process. This indicates that the transfer of funds is not as imminent as some have claimed.
The situation arose after assertions from the TISZA government that Hungary had effectively secured the frozen EU funds. However, the European Commission’s response clearly indicates that the funds have not yet been transferred and that the final evaluation of Hungary’s compliance is still pending.