The Hungarian government’s recent attacks on the rule of law, fundamental rights and the fight against corruption show once again that Viktor Orbán is systematically undermining the common values of the Union. In a letter sent this week to EU Budget Commissioner Serafin and Justice Commissioner McGrath, I – together with 25 leading MEPs from five political groups – call on the European Commission to immediately freeze all EU payments to Hungary.

The Commission has so far withheld €18 billion from Hungary due to widespread corruption, serious violations of the rule of law, kleptocratic structures and systematic violations of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Since the partial freeze in December 2022, the Hungarian government has not implemented a single one of the 27 reforms agreed with the Commission. Instead, the situation has dramatically worsened:

1. Integrity authority under pressure: The national anti-corruption authority set up specifically on request of the EU Commission is being politically intimidated; its head recently even cancelled invitations to the EU Parliament for fear of repression.

2. Judicial deal undermines independence: A secretly negotiated agreement between the government and judicial bodies (in force since January 2025) further undermines the already severely compromised independence of the judiciary.

3. Ban on Budapest Pride: A law passed in March 2025 banned the Budapest Pride and allows mass surveillance of participants; a constitutional amendment of 14 April permanently enshrines this and other repressive measures in the Hungarian constitution.

4. New laws against the last remaining voices critical of the government: With the ‘Defence of Sovereignty Law’ of December 2023, Orbán’s government created an office to screen organisations with foreign funding at will – a drastic attack on data protection, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Last week, the government has topped this up: An additional bill would allow critical actors (civil society, opposition, media, companies) to be blacklisted. Strict funding restrictions, financial monitoring and sanctions could be imposed on them, making it impossible for them to operate in future. 

In view of this escalation, it is clear that no more euros should be channelled into a regime that openly dismantles democracy and fundamental rights.

You can find the letter including all signatories under the following link: https://danielfreund.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Full-funding-freeze-Hungary_Joint-MEP-letter.pdf