Hungary accelerates talks with EU to unlock billions in funding
Financial Times
23-05-23 04:18
Hungary's talks with Brussels to release nearly a third of its EU funding have progressed swiftly, according to János Bóka, Hungary’s EU negotiator and junior justice minister. Political tensions and state reforms had frozen funds for over a decade but the country adopted a justice reform that fulfilled preconditions for nearly €13bn under the cohesion policy. The remaining funds are unlikely to be granted due to unresolved ideological differences over reforms on academic freedoms, LGBTQ rights and asylum rules. To access a share of its regular cohesion funds and €12.4bn worth of loans and grants from the post-pandemic recovery fund, Hungary requires transparency and accountability guarantees and further measures against corruption and embezzlement.