Exclusive: Hungary’s new government to review Orbán's EU defence plan over corruption concerns

Péter Magyar's incoming authorities volition reappraisal a nationalist defence program for inexpensive European financing to rearm Hungary issued nether the ticker of Viktor Orbán citing corruption concerns, Euronews has learned.

A revision of the plan's goals and scope successful enactment with the priorities of the Magyar's authorities is possible, and the European Commission has agreed to their petition to reappraisal it and measure it earlier making taking further steps.

The low-interest indebtedness strategy was launched past twelvemonth by Brussels to fortify defence industries and subject readiness crossed the bloc successful effect to the menace posed by Russia. SAFE volition administer €150 cardinal among 19 subordinate states.

Hungary submitted its plan, worthy €16.2 billion, past December, detailing defence and dual-use projects. As the Commission has yet to o.k. the submission, experts from Magyar's incoming authorities are present scrutinising it and whitethorn suggest changes.

"We volition critically reappraisal the database submitted by the outgoing authorities and marque decisions based connected existent needs and an appraisal of corruption risks," a root wrong the Tisza Party told Euronews connected information of anonymity.

The corruption risks referred to are understood to subordinate to Hungarian concern interests with ties to Viktor Orbán's outgoing government.

National plans submitted to the Commission are treated arsenic confidential fixed their delicate nature. The Commission confirmed it is engaging with the incoming Hungarian authorities connected the matter.

"The Commission is, of course, unfastened to engaging connected the Hungarian SAFE program with the incoming government," Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier told Euronews, adding that the appraisal of Hungary's defence program remains ongoing and volition beryllium approved erstwhile it is ready.

Hungary's program past successful the queue

In March, the Commission approved the Czech and French SAFE nationalist plans, leaving Hungary's submission arsenic the past pending case. The Commission's presumption astatine the clip mirrored its existent stance: that the program was not yet acceptable for approval.

Hungary subsequently wrote to the Commission requesting an update connected the review's status. The Commission responded by insisting that revisions were required.

Hungary's envelope of €16.2 cardinal was among the 3 largest requests, trailing lone Poland and Romania, and exceeded France's allocation — Paris sought €15.1 billion.

Hungarian diplomats acquainted with the substance support that the hold was politically motivated and that Budapest had met each the indispensable criteria for a affirmative assessment.

"Looking astatine the timeline, the Commission decided successful aboriginal February not to o.k. the Hungarian program earlier the elections. Until then, the process had followed the aforesaid signifier arsenic with different subordinate states," a elder Hungarian authoritative told Euronews connected information of anonymity.

"Afterwards, the Commission went wholly silent: nary feedback, nary questions, nary justification — not adjacent replies to authoritative inquiries. This is not a regular procedure; it is an evident governmental blockage," the authoritative added.

The Commission this week rejected allegations that the Orbán government's SAFE program had been held up for governmental reasons.

"I firmly rebut the proposition that it has been blocked for governmental reasons. We person not blocked immoderate SAFE plan," spokesperson Regnier said, noting that Hungary had been asked for revisions.

High-level EU delegation visits Budapest

Over the weekend, a elder European Commission delegation travelled to Budapest for archetypal informal talks with officials from Magyar's incoming team.

Ursula von der Leyen's main of staff, Björn Seibert, led the EU delegation, which included respective director-generals. The sojourn was notable fixed that discussions took spot with Tisza Party officials who person not yet assumed ceremonial governmental authority.

Although the Director General for Defence Industry and Space, Timo Pesonen, was not present, Hungary's SAFE program featured successful the discussions.

Following the meeting, some sides expressed willingness to resoluteness the contented of Hungary's frozen EU funds — worthy €17 cardinal retired of the €27 cardinal earmarked for Hungary successful the existent budgetary period.

Magyar and Commission President von der Leyen had antecedently agreed to found a nonstop connection transmission betwixt their teams to enactment towards unblocking the funds.

Hungary stands to suffer €10 cardinal successful betterment funds if a woody is not reached by the extremity of August. Releasing frozen EU funds — blocked by Brussels during the Orbán authorities implicit rule-of-law and anti-corruption concerns — was the cardinal pledge of Magyar's predetermination campaign.