The Council of the EU has ended restrictions that limited Hungary's access to European funding. The decision releases €4.2 billion and allows Hungary to return to Erasmus+, a student exchange program, and Horizon Europe, a research program. The restrictions began in 2022 because of corruption concerns and required Hungary to respect the rule of law to receive funds.
After a large election victory, Hungary's new government introduced measures to fight corruption and make government activities more transparent. Hungary and the European Commission agreed on reforms and investment plans linked to the release of €16.4 billion in total. The €4.2 billion now available is part of that agreement.
Hungary is also applying for €10 billion from EU funds intended to support recovery after the pandemic. A further €2.2 billion depends on improvements in academic freedom. At the end of August, Hungary said it had met every condition. The European Commission is checking that claim. If its assessment is positive and approval follows in the fall, Hungary could receive the remaining money by the end of the year.
