The European Commission has adopted a decision confirming Hungary's participation in the enhanced cooperation establishing the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), marking the end of Hungary's opt-out from the EU-wide anti-fraud body. The decision, published on 10 July 2026, follows Hungary's notification of its intention to join on 29 May 2026 and makes Hungary the 24th participating member state.
Under the decision, Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 (the EPPO Regulation) will apply in Hungary for any offence within EPPO competence committed after 1 June 2021, granting the EPPO retroactive jurisdiction. However, key operational provisions—covering notifications, initiation of investigations, right of evocation, and cross-border investigations (Articles 24 to 27 and 31)—will only apply from the twentieth day after the appointment of the European Prosecutor from Hungary. Until then, national authorities will handle related procedures.
The decision enters into force on the twentieth day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The EPPO and Hungarian authorities may also agree on specific notification modalities for offences committed before the decision's entry into force.
With Hungary's accession, the only non-participating member states are those that do not take part in measures under Title V of Part Three of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union by virtue of primary law—namely Denmark and Ireland, which have opt-outs from justice and home affairs cooperation. Poland, which had previously opted out, has since joined the EPPO in 2023.
For the European Commission and EPPO, Hungary's participation strengthens the body's reach and effectiveness in protecting the EU budget, as Hungary is a significant recipient of EU funds. For Hungarian authorities, the decision requires alignment with EPPO procedures and potential loss of control over certain fraud investigations. For EU taxpayers, it means enhanced oversight of EU spending in Hungary, potentially reducing fraud. For businesses operating in Hungary, the EPPO's involvement may lead to more rigorous enforcement of EU financial rules, increasing compliance costs but also ensuring a level playing field.
The decision is a formal Commission act, requiring no further approval from the Council or European Parliament. The next step is the appointment of the European Prosecutor from Hungary, which will be proposed by the Commission and appointed by the Council with the consent of the European Parliament. Once appointed, the EPPO will fully exercise its powers in Hungary.