EU Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath said Friday that Hungary must prioritize reforms for its citizens rather than to satisfy the European Union.
This stance signals a continued deadlock over the rule of law in Hungary. The dispute has blocked access to billions of euros in recovery funds, impacting the nation's economic stability and its relationship with Brussels.
In an interview with Euronews, McGrath said that "Hungary must reform for its people, not for the EU" [2]. While he acknowledged that Hungary is on a "very clear and steadfast path to restore the rule of law" [1], he said that the release of frozen funds is not imminent.
The financial stakes are significant. Discrepancies in reporting indicate that the amount of EU funds frozen due to rule-of-law concerns ranges from €10 billion [3] to €17 billion [1]. These funds were intended to support the country's recovery, and modernization efforts.
Hungary has sought to reset ties with the EU to unlock these assets. Some reports indicate the country is specifically seeking to unlock €10 billion [3] by a deadline of August 2026 [3]. However, the commissioner's comments suggest that superficial changes to appease the EU will not suffice.
McGrath's emphasis on internal reform suggests that the EU is looking for systemic changes to the Hungarian judicial and political landscape. The insistence that reforms be driven by the needs of the Hungarian people—rather than a desire for funding—places the burden of proof on the Hungarian government to demonstrate genuine democratic progress.
“Hungary must reform for its people, not for the EU.”
The EU is maintaining a hard line on rule-of-law standards, refusing to trade financial relief for surface-level policy changes. By framing the necessary reforms as a benefit to Hungarian citizens rather than a requirement for EU funding, Commissioner McGrath is attempting to shift the political incentive from financial gain to domestic legitimacy. This suggests that the €10 billion to €17 billion in frozen funds will remain inaccessible until the EU sees evidence of structural shifts in Hungary's legal system.
