Hungary’s incoming Prime Minister Peter Magyar presented the first steps he plans to take to regain access to European Union funding frozen due to corruption and rule of law concerns related to his predecessor’s policies.
Summing up two days of talks with a delegation from the European Commission, Magyar on Sunday said his Tisza party plans measures to fight corruption, sign up to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, and restore the freedom and independence of the judiciary, higher education and the media.
“Once we take office, we plan to carry out these pledges in full, along with our vow to bring home the EU funding that belongs to the Hungarian people,” Magyar said in a statement.
Full election results published on Saturday showed the Tisza party will have an unprecedented majority in parliament, giving it broad powers to change the constitution and dismantle the system built up by outgoing premier Viktor Orbán over the past 16 years.
In its own statement, the European Commission said the meetings held in Budapest on Friday and Saturday presented “an early opportunity for practical discussions on how to move forward and make real progress to unlock EU funds earmarked for Hungary.”
“This necessary work will continue,” the commission said in the statement.
While Magyar won’t formally be sworn in until around 9 May, he’s already held talks with Hungarian businesses, and preparations for parliament’s opening session are well under way.
The prospect of billions of euros in fresh EU funding, along with Magyar’s plans to take steps to introduce the euro, have already driven Hungary’s stocks, bonds and currency to multi-year highs.
