Announcement of move to join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office comes as Budapest races to secure the release of suspended EU cash.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced his government will join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office — a sharp break with Viktor Orbán’s long-standing refusal to sign up.
Hungary remains one of the only EU countries outside the EU’s anti-fraud watchdog, as the previous prime minister argued that joining would undermine national sovereignty.
“I would like to announce here from Brussels that I will shortly officially submit Hungary’s intention to join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office to the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council,” Magyar said in a Facebook video from Brussels on Thursday.
The EPPO has the power to investigate and prosecute crimes involving the EU budget, such as fraud and corruption.
Magyar described the move as part of his government’s anti-corruption drive, arguing that negotiations with Brussels over frozen EU funds were centered on “the fight against corruption.”
The announcement came as Magyar visits Brussels in a bid to reset Hungary’s strained relationship with EU institutions after years of clashes under Orbán. Budapest is racing to unlock billions in frozen EU cash, including €10.4 billion in post-pandemic recovery funds suspended over rule-of-law concerns during Orbán’s 16 years in power.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to meet Magyar on Friday. The Hungarian leader is also holding talks with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever on Thursday.
Magyar reiterated in his video that his government had already reached an agreement with Brussels on “many important matters,” including reforms tied to public-interest asset management foundations.