Opposition MEP Accuses Gov’t of Lying About EU Funding for Hungary

  • 31 Aug 2022 11:15 AM
  • Hungary Matters
Opposition MEP Accuses Gov’t of Lying About EU Funding for Hungary
Despite claims that Hungary is not receiving monies from the EU, the government has not even submitted a proper and detailed plan to Brussels, only “sent a letter of communication”, Socialist Party MEP István Ujhelyi said yesterday.

He told an online press conference that a letter he had received from EC President Ursula von der Leyen on August 24 showed that the Hungarian government had so far not taken any official steps to draw down loans available from the European Union recovery fund.

The government has been “continually arm wrestling” with European institutions in order to acquire EU funding, he said. At first, the government “arrogantly refused” the available loans, arguing that Hungary did not need it.

In March, however, following the acceleration of inflation and the weakening of the forint, the prime minister’s press chief said that Prime Minister Viktor Orban had informed Von der Leyen in a letter that Hungary wanted to gain access to the loans, Ujhelyi said.

“This, however, has not been followed up by any official steps,” he said. Ujhelyi called on the government to “talk sincerely”, adding that “while you point the finger for everything at European institutions, you can neither govern nor tell the truth”.

MTI Photo

  • How does this content make you feel?

XpatLoop Media Partner

Hungary Matters

Launched in January 2014, this newsletter published on week days covers 'everything you need to know about what’s going on in Hungary and beyond', according to its publisher the state media agency MTI.

  • Budget Crisis Threatens Budapest’s Public Services, City Hall Rejects Insolvency Ultimatum

    Budget Crisis Threatens Budapest’s Public Services, City Hall Rejects Insolvency Ultimatum

    • 2 Dec 2025 6:15 AM

    The financial stability of Budapest is currently at the centre of a fierce political standoff between the City Assembly and the national government. The dispute intensified this week after Mayor Gergely Karácsony and the city administration rejected a government proposal to declare the capital insolvent, an act the government had framed as a prerequisite for offering financial aid.

  • New Poll: Fidesz Ahead by 400,000 Votes If Election Held Now

    New Poll: Fidesz Ahead by 400,000 Votes If Election Held Now

    • 1 Dec 2025 3:43 PM

    If Hungary's election were held now, Fidesz would win 47 percent of the vote, up from 46 percent in August, while the opposition Tisza Party trails at 40 percent, according to a Nezopont Institute survey of 1,000 respondents conducted between Nov 24 and 26.

  • DK: 'Putin Summoned Orbán to Moscow Again'

    DK: 'Putin Summoned Orbán to Moscow Again'

    • 1 Dec 2025 5:16 AM

    "Russian President Vladimir Putin has summoned Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to Moscow again to personally deliver his orders to the Hungarian prime minister," opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) deputy leader Sandor Rónai said on Friday commenting on Orbán's trip to Russia.