The release of around €10 billion in EU funds to the Hungarian government should be reversed. This was announced today by the European Advocate General. The statement came as part of the final opinion in a closely watched court case between the European Parliament and the European Commission. The Court’s judgment is still pending. However, opinions by the Advocate General are often seen as indicative of the likely outcome.

In 2023, the Commission had released funds to Hungary that had previously been frozen – just ahead of an EU summit. Shortly afterwards, Viktor Orbán withdrew his veto against the opening of Ukraine’s EU accession process. The European Parliament suspects that the Commission effectively bought Orbán’s consent and filed a case before the European Court of Justice.

If the judges follow the Advocate General’s opinion, Hungary could be required to repay billions of euros that have already been disbursed.

Daniel Freund, Green Member of the European Parliament and co-initiator of the lawsuit:

“The European Advocate General’s final opinion was a resounding rebuke to the Commission. If the Court follows this reasoning in its judgment, it would be a victory for the rule of law in Europe.

The Advocate General confirms what the European Parliament has warned about for years: the release of €10 billion to the Hungarian government was illegal and politically motivated. The Commission has undermined its own credibility through its actions. It must stop allowing itself to be manipulated by autocrats like Viktor Orbán.”