A senior 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 carry out the judicial reforms required to unlock about €10bn in EU funds.
The commission froze the money in 2022 over concerns about corruption and rule-of-law breaches under prime minister Viktor Orbán. In 2023, it lifted the suspension, saying Hungary had met the conditions. The European Parliament challenged that decision, claiming the commission made serious errors and acted for political reasons.
Ćapeta said the commission did not properly assess whether reforms were fully implemented and failed to justify the payout. 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 or adjust future payments.
The case may set a major precedent for how EU institutions enforce rule-of-law standards. Orbán, who denies wrongdoing, faces a strong electoral challenge from Péter Magyar ahead of upcoming elections.
