In a joint meeting of the Committees on Budgets and Budgetary Control on 14 July 2026, MEPs scrutinised the conditions for unfreezing up to EUR 16.4 billion in EU funds for Hungary, with Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin, and Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath defending the Commission's approach that no funds would be released until all legal conditions and milestones are met.
Divergence centred on whether the mechanism is purely legal or politically selective. Dick Erixon (ECR) and Alexander Jungbluth (ESN) questioned the objectivity of the conditionality framework, while Moritz Körner (Renew) and the Commissioners stressed its legislative basis. Jean-Marc Germain (S&D) and Daniel Freund (Greens/EFA) demanded verification beyond law-making, insisting on tangible implementation. Jonas Sjöstedt (The Left) questioned Hungary's audit system, while Kinga Kollár (EPP) praised reforms but Carla Tavares (S&D) and Krzysztof Śmiszek (S&D) warned of weak controls. Tineke Strik (Greens/EFA) cited unresolved fundamental rights issues on media, LGBTIQ+ rights, and judicial independence. Serafin noted that public-interest trusts for universities still lacked sufficient safeguards for Erasmus access.
Broad consensus emerged that major legislative changes had occurred but that implementation, not legislation, would determine credibility. Monika Hohlmeier (EPP) flagged unanswered questions on constitutional amendments and Spain's RRF spending, proposing written follow-up. The debate highlighted trade-offs: releasing funds could boost Hungary's economy and support students and civil society, but risks undermining EU rule-of-law enforcement and taxpayer trust if controls prove weak. Conversely, maintaining the freeze protects EU values but delays financial support for Hungarian beneficiaries.