The European Union Council officially lifted the conditionality measures against Hungary on Tuesday, unlocking €4.2 billion in frozen cohesion funds. The decision, approved at the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg, also restores full access for Hungarian students and researchers to the Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe programs after years of suspension.
Unlocking €4.2 Billion and Restoring Academic Access
The Council Implementing Decision, adopted during the General Affairs Council (GAC) on October 13, 2026, marks the formal conclusion of the conditionality procedure initiated against Hungary. By closing this mechanism, the EU has removed the primary barrier preventing the disbursement of €4.2 billion in cohesion funding. The decision was reported by Hungary’s Permanent Representation to the European Union on X, confirming that the move restores full access to Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe for all Hungarian universities, students, instructors, and researchers.
Beyond the financial release, the decision ends the exclusion of Hungarian institutions from two major European programs. The 2022 decision had prohibited new financial commitments to specific foundations and institutions, effectively barring them from these academic and research initiatives. Weisz Viktor, a European Parliament representative for the Tisza party, welcomed the outcome, stating: The Erasmus+ is not a privilege, but a right, an opportunity for learning, development, and getting to know Europe. We are working to ensure that these opportunities are available to all young Hungarians.
Reform Milestones and the Path to Approval
The European Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, had proposed lifting the measures on September 23, citing progress in Hungary’s rule-of-law reforms. The Hungarian government, under Magyar Péter, formally notified Brussels of these completed measures on September 9. At the GAC meeting, Hungary was represented by Bíró-Nagy András, the State Secretary for European Union Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office.
- Expansion of the Integrity Authority powers.
- Stricter regulations governing public procurement and asset declarations.
- Restructuring of the institution system previously organized under public interest asset management foundations.
While the government welcomed the breakthrough, domestic political reactions remained divided; the Fidesz party issued a statement alleging that the outcome was the result of a political agreement between Brussels and the Tisza party, rather than purely technical compliance.
‼️ StateSec @BiroNagyAndras represents Hungary at today’s #GAC, which has just adopted the Council Implementing Decision lifting the conditionality measures on Hungary, unlocking €4.2 billion & restoring full access to Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe for all Hungarian universities.
EU Keeps Some Funds Frozen and Article 7 Open
Despite the release of the €4.2 billion, significant portions of EU support for Hungary remain frozen. These funds remain subject to separate, ongoing examinations by the European Commission, which must also evaluate social conditions and Roma integration programs.
The Article 7 procedure, launched by the European Parliament in 2018 to monitor systemic risks to EU values, is still open. The most severe consequence of the Article 7 mechanism—the suspension of voting rights—requires a unanimous decision by all other member states in the European Council, a scenario considered to have no real political basis.
Timeline for Future Disbursements
The government is now focused on the next steps for accessing the remaining recovery and cohesion funds. The European Commission is scheduled to complete its preliminary assessment of Hungary’s outstanding payment requests by November 20, 2026. This timeline is intended to allow for the potential arrival of further funds before the end of the calendar year, provided the evaluation of the remaining milestones proves positive.