Hungary’s new prime minister, Péter Magyar, is expected to visit Poland in search of political support in efforts to unlock billions of euros in European Union funds. The visit to Warsaw may carry not only diplomatic but also economic significance, as Budapest urgently needs access to EU money that had been frozen for years due to disputes over the rule of law, corruption and the state of democracy in Hungary.
Prof. Bogdan Góralczyk offered a sharp assessment of Hungary’s situation. Speaking on the “Newsroom” program, he said that the country is “economically flat on its back.” In his view, Donald Tusk’s experience within European structures could be particularly valuable for the new government in Budapest. Poland, which after its own change of government successfully pushed for the release of EU funds, may now become a political reference point for Hungary.
The stakes are enormous. Hungary is seeking access above all to €10.4 billion from the EU recovery fund, including €6.5 billion in grants and €3.9 billion in low-interest loans. In addition, around €7 billion in structural funds remains frozen. Budapest must act quickly, as a key deadline related to the recovery fund falls on August 31, 2026.
The change of power in Hungary has opened new possibilities for Budapest. Péter Magyar and his TISZA party ended Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule, promising to rebuild relations with the European Union, carry out rule-of-law reforms and pursue a more predictable economic policy. For Brussels, however, political change alone will not be enough to automatically release the funds. Concrete reforms will be required, especially in the areas of judicial independence, anti-corruption measures and aligning Hungarian law with EU standards.
For Magyar, the visit to Poland may therefore be an attempt to build broader diplomatic backing. Warsaw currently holds a stronger position in relations with the European Commission than Orbán’s government did in recent years. Tusk is also a well-recognized figure in Brussels, a former president of the European Council and one of the leading politicians of the European centre-right. From Budapest’s perspective, Polish support could help convince EU partners that the new government genuinely wants to break with the most confrontational legacy of the previous administration.
Still, this will not be an easy process. Hungary continues to struggle with a high deficit, pressure on its currency and an economy that has been stagnant in recent years. The new government is promising a change in economic policy, higher productivity, better conditions for investors and more transparent rules for public spending. At the same time, it must convince Brussels that its reforms are not merely political gestures, but lasting systemic changes.
Magyar’s visit to Poland may therefore become one of the first tests of his foreign policy. Hungary’s new prime minister needs money, credibility and allies. Poland can help him in all three areas, but the final decision on the EU billions will be made not in Warsaw, but in Brussels. And there, Budapest is expected above all to prove that the era of political confrontation with the European Union has truly come to an end.
