Hungary's new government has announced it will join the European Public Prosecutor's Office, marking a fundamental shift in the country's relationship with EU oversight institutions after years of resistance under the previous administration.
The decision, announced by Justice Minister Gerzsenyi Gabriella and published in the Magyar Közlöny, Hungary's official gazette, represents one of the most concrete policy reversals since the change in government.
"The fight against corruption and the restoration of the rule of law cannot be delayed," Gerzsenyi wrote in a Facebook post, emphasizing that while the plan was clear during the campaign, seeing it in official text makes it "more tangible, more real."
The European Public Prosecutor's Office, established in 2017, investigates and prosecutes fraud against the EU budget, corruption involving EU funds, and serious cross-border VAT fraud. Hungary, alongside Poland, Sweden, Ireland, and Denmark, initially opted out of participation when the body was created.
Under the previous government led by Viktor Orbán, Hungary consistently blocked or delayed joining EPPO, a stance widely interpreted as protecting government officials and allies from external scrutiny over EU fund management. The country received billions in EU funding annually but faced persistent questions about transparency and corruption in how those funds were allocated and spent.
The reversal comes as the new administration seeks to unlock frozen EU recovery funds. Brussels has withheld billions in pandemic recovery assistance and cohesion funds over rule-of-law concerns, and joining EPPO represents a tangible commitment to independent oversight.
Opposition reactions have been mixed. While civil society groups and anti-corruption advocates welcomed the move, some former government supporters view it as surrendering sovereignty to Brussels. Rétvári Bence, a prominent figure from the previous administration, criticized the decision as undermining Hungarian independence.
The technical process of accession will require parliamentary approval and coordination with EU institutions. Poland joined EPPO in 2024 after its own change in government, and Hungary now follows a similar path.
In Hungary, as across the region, national sovereignty and European integration exist in constant tension. The government's decision reflects a calculation that access to EU funds and improved relations with Brussels outweigh concerns about external oversight. Whether this gamble pays off politically will depend on the new administration's ability to demonstrate both effective governance and genuine commitment to transparency.
The announcement drew strong reactions on social media, with supporters celebrating what they see as a victory for accountability and critics warning of foreign interference. For Brussels, Hungary's accession represents validation of its rule-of-law conditionality mechanisms—showing that financial pressure can indeed prompt institutional reforms.
The move signals that after years of confrontation between Budapest and EU institutions, a new chapter may be beginning—one where Hungary accepts greater scrutiny in exchange for restored partnership with Brussels.
