At the start of the new year, Viktor Orbán has once again reached deep into the pockets of Hungarians. He has deprived his own population of more than one billion euros in EU funds – money that could have been used to modernise hospitals, build schools, or repair roads.

What happened?

A large share of EU funding for Hungary is currently frozen because the country does not meet the EU’s rule-of-law standards. The funds will only be released once Hungary implements the required reforms. If this does not happen, a tranche of the money expires each year. That is exactly what has happened again with the turn of the year: €1.1 billion has been lost for good, because Orbán chooses corruption over EU law.

Is this the first time Hungary has lost money?

This is the second time EU funds earmarked for Hungary have expired. At the end of 2024, the country already lost €1 billion. On top of that come penalty payments because Hungary has failed to comply with rulings of the European Court of Justice. In 2024, the ECJ imposed a fine of €200 million on Hungary for violating European asylum law. An additional €1 million per day is added as long as the ruling is not implemented. As of today, these penalties have already amounted to €575 million.

How much has Orbán’s policy cost so far?

All told, Orbán’s policies have so far cost his fellow citizens €2.875 billion in funds that are irrevocably lost – billions that could have been invested in modernising the country. And this is small change compared to what Hungary faces later this year. A total of €10.43 billion in COVID recovery funds remains frozen because Orbán has failed to meet the basic conditions for disbursement. If this does not change, Hungarians will lose the entire sum in one go at the end of August.

Daniel Freund, Coordinator of the Greens in the Budgetary Control Committee:

“Viktor Orbán is costing Hungarians billions. Money for hospitals, schools and roads is gone because instead of complying with EU law, Orbán continues to entrench his corrupt system. This is not Brussels versus Budapest, this is Orbán versus the interests of his own people.

2026 is the year of decision. If Orbán continues on this path, he will have lost €14 billion in EU funds by the end of the year. In April, Hungarians have the chance to vote out Orbán’s mafia-like system. It would be worth it.”