Hungary may reallocate EU defense grants
Hungary’s incoming government plans to change who receives billions in European defense grants. Companies linked to Viktor Orbán may lose access to these funds. According to media reports, Brussels is open to revising the lists of recipients. Bloomberg reports this, citing informed sources.
Hungary may significantly overhaul how it spends EU funds on defense. According to Bloomberg, the Fidesz party, which is preparing to take power, wants to redirect approximately €16.2 billion—and exclude companies linked to current Prime Minister Viktor Orbán from this process.
This concerns the SAFE program—large EU loans totaling up to €150 billion, intended to help countries rearm more quickly amid Russia’s war against Ukraine. On this list, Hungary is among the largest potential recipients after Poland and Romania. According to sources, incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar wants to do one simple thing: ensure that this money does not end up in the hands of businesses with ties to Orbán. This is one of the signals that the new government plans to change its approach to managing state resources.
The European Commission, as journalists report, is prepared for such changes and is open to reviewing the lists of companies eligible for funding. This step aligns with the broader agenda of the “Tisza” party. The party promises a more pro-European policy than the current government. During Orbán’s tenure, Hungary has repeatedly blocked EU decisions and lost access to some European funds due to concerns over the rule of law and corruption.
Transparency issues are also confirmed by international assessments. According to Transparency International, Hungary has been considered the most corrupt country among EU members in recent years. For the new government, this presents a concrete challenge: to swiftly implement reforms that will allow for the release of EU funding. This could be the first major test for Magyar’s team after taking office in early May.
If these plans are implemented, Hungary could not only change its domestic policy but also restore Brussels’ trust—and regain access to substantial European funds.
Hungary has confirmed the resumption of Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline.
