Europe News
EU opens two more Ukraine accession clusters as Hungary lifts veto
EU governments agreed to open two additional accession clusters with Ukraine after Hungary dropped its veto following an agreement on the rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority. Zelenskyy and Magyar may meet in Brussels later this week.
Europe News
EU ends anti-corruption funding curbs on Hungary, freeing €4.2bn
The Council of the EU has ended the 2022 conditionality mechanism imposed on Hungary over corruption risks, releasing €4.2 billion and restoring access to Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe after Péter Magyar’s new government adopted anti-corruption reforms.
Europe News
Ukraine passes minority rights law to end Hungary’s EU veto
Ukraine’s parliament passed a minority rights law, easing a years-long dispute with Hungary. Diplomats expect Budapest to approve two more EU accession clusters on Tuesday, and Prime Minister Péter Magyar could meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels on Thursday.
Europe News
Hungary and Ukraine close in on deal over ethnic Hungarian rights
Kyiv will propose a new law on minority education rights, with a vote expected in October. Budapest has blocked EU accession talks until Ukraine adopts the laws agreed under an 11-point plan on Hungarians in Transcarpathia.
Russia
Russia expels Hungarian diplomats as Budapest breaks with Orbán era
Moscow ordered Hungarian embassy and consulate staff out just weeks after Budapest expelled 10 Russian diplomats on national security grounds in September, the first such move by Hungary since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Europe News
Magyar's 'Operation Purge' takes shape with high level detentions
Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s “Operation Purge” has entered a new phase with the detention of two former ministers. Holding officials from the Orbán era to account was a central campaign pledge, and Magyar says the drive will now accelerate. Fidesz has denounced the effort as political revenge.
Europe News
Behind the scenes: summit row and oil deal test Hungary-Ukraine ties
A dispute over Hungary’s role in Ukraine’s Carpathian Eight summit and the disclosure of an oil-storage deal between MOL and Naftogaz have further strained ties between Budapest and Kyiv, as a separate row over minority rights continues to hold up Ukraine’s EU accession talks.
Europe News
Von der Leyen says Hungary 'strengthened rule of law'
The European Commission has unlocked €4.2 billion in cohesion funds for Hungary and reopened Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe access, after PM Péter Magyar's government met EU rule-of-law conditions. Brussels froze the funds in 2022 over corruption and procurement concerns under the Orbán government.