The top legal adviser to the European Court of Justice has said the European Commission should not have released billions of euros to Hungary. Advocate general Tamara Ćapeta argued that Hungary failed to implement the judicial reforms required to unlock roughly €10bn in suspended funds.
The commission froze payments in 2022 over concerns about corruption and rule-of-law breaches under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. In 2023, it concluded that sufficient reforms had been made and lifted part of the suspension. The European Parliament challenged that decision, claiming the commission committed serious legal errors and acted without proper transparency.
Ćapeta said the commission incorrectly assessed Hungary’s reforms and allowed payments without ensuring the measures were fully in force. While her opinion is not binding, judges often follow such advice. A final ruling is expected in the coming months and could force the commission to recover funds by reducing future payments.
The case may set a major precedent for how EU institutions enforce rule-of-law standards. Meanwhile, Orbán faces a strong electoral challenge from opposition leader Péter Magyar ahead of April’s vote.
