The top legal adviser to the European Court of Justice has said the European Commission should not have unfrozen billions of euros for Hungary. Advocate general Tamara Ćapeta argued that Hungary failed to fully implement the judicial reforms required to unlock about €10bn in EU funds.
The commission had suspended payments in 2022 over concerns about corruption and rule-of-law breaches under prime minister Viktor Orbán. In 2023, it concluded reforms were sufficient and lifted the suspension. The European Parliament challenged that decision, claiming serious errors and suggesting political motives linked to EU support for Ukraine.
Ćapeta said the commission did not properly assess Hungary’s reforms and lacked transparency in its decision. While her opinion is not binding, the court often follows such advice. A final ruling is expected in the coming months and could force the commission to recover funds through future budget adjustments.
Orbán, who faces a strong electoral challenge from Péter Magyar and his Tisza party, has accused Brussels of political interference. The case could set an important precedent for how the EU enforces rule-of-law conditions on member states.
