Hungary info corner

Executive Summary: PM Magyar confirmed that a new 2026 budget is the government's immediate priority, citing the poor state of inherited public finances. Tax reform – including review of the special progressive retail tax criticised by Austria and the European Commission as discriminatory – will follow in the medium to long term.

Executive Summary: PM Magyar and Austrian Chancellor Stocker agreed in Vienna to hold a joint cabinet session in Gödöllő in September 2026, signalling a diplomatic reset with Austria – following a similar opening with Poland.

Executive Summary: President Sulyok signed into law the reversal of Hungary's ICC withdrawal. The law entered into force on 29 May 2026, repealing the 2025 withdrawal decision. Hungary remains a full member of the ICC with all corresponding legal obligations, including cooperation with arrest warrants.

What happened: Following parliament's vote on 27 May (133 in favour, 37 against, 5 abstentions), the law reversing Hungary's withdrawal from the ICC Rome Statute was signed and published in the Official Gazette. The law, noted by Justice Minister Márta Görög, entered into force on 29 May. The 2025 law under which the Orbán government initiated the withdrawal has been repealed. The law's reasoning frames the decision as a commitment to international justice, human dignity and the rule of law.

Executive Summary: Hungary's new government under PM Péter Magyar has committed to reduce Russian energy dependence by 2035 through supply diversification, while maintaining regulated household energy prices. Unlocking ~€10 billion in frozen EU funds by end of August 2026 is a top priority. The future of the Paks II nuclear project is uncertain.