A Commission Staff Working Document published on 23 July 2026 evaluates Hungary's implementation of the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) for the 2020–2023 period, finding that while some measures have been updated, eutrophication in surface waters has increased to 82.8% of monitoring points and the nitrogen balance rose by 12.1 kg per hectare compared to the previous reporting period. The document, part of the EU's regular assessment cycle, recommends that Hungary review its action programme to address nitrate hotspots, update nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) designations in line with the Water Framework Directive, and consider introducing phosphorus fertilisation limits.
The assessment covers Hungary's modified action programme, which shortened the closed period for fertiliser application, adjusted rules for temporary manure storage on fields, and set a four-hour incorporation time for organic fertiliser. NVZ designation remains unchanged, covering 52% of the utilised agricultural area, and includes areas around livestock farms subject to environmental procedures. The action programme applies uniformly to all farmers in NVZs, with exemptions for household-level activities. On-farm inspections cover 1.3% of farms annually; the main non-compliance issues were nitrogen supply without soil testing (9% of inspected farms) and insufficient manure storage capacity (2.2%).
Groundwater monitoring shows 7.4% of points exceed the 50 mg/l nitrate limit, with hotspots concentrated in Central Transdanubia, Southern Great Plain, Western Transdanubia, and Pest. Surface waters exceed the limit at 1.2% of points, but eutrophication has risen to 82.8% of points, up 5.7 percentage points from the previous period. The highest shares are in Northern Great Plain (91%), Northern Hungary (88.6%), and Southern Transdanubia (85%). Non-NVZ areas still contain hotspots: 2.2% of groundwater and 5.6% of surface water nitrate hotspots lie outside designated zones, and 19% of eutrophic points are outside NVZs. Livestock density remains low at 0.4 livestock units per hectare, while mineral nitrogen fertiliser use decreased slightly.
The Commission warns that without reinforced measures, eutrophication may worsen and progress toward Water Framework Directive objectives may be insufficient, especially under climate change pressures. The document calls for improved cooperation and dissemination of best practices among farmers and authorities. The findings affect Hungarian farmers, who face potential tighter fertilisation rules and expanded NVZ designations, as well as water utilities and environmental authorities responsible for meeting EU water quality targets. The European Commission may follow up with formal recommendations or infringement procedures if Hungary does not address the identified shortcomings in its next action programme revision.