Hungary’s incoming government is reviewing a defense funding proposal submitted by the previous administration, citing concerns over potential corruption risks in the plan.
The proposal, presented by Viktor Orbán’s government last December, seeks €16.2 billion in low-interest loans from the European Union’s SAFE program to strengthen the country’s defense industry and military readiness in response to threats from Russia.
Under the SAFE initiative, the EU has made €150 billion available to 19 member states to boost defense production and preparedness. Hungary’s request is among the largest submitted, though it remains the only one among the 27 EU members that has not yet received approval from the European Commission.
Prime Minister-designate Péter Magyar said his team will conduct a thorough review of the previous government’s submission, focusing on actual defense needs and corruption risks before making any decisions.
“We will critically assess the list submitted by the outgoing government and produce decisions based on real needs and an evaluation of corruption risks,” an anonymous source from Magyar’s party told Euronews.
The source indicated that corruption concerns are tied to Hungarian business interests with close links to the former Orbán administration, particularly in the defense sector.
The European Commission has agreed to allow the incoming government to review and evaluate the proposal before taking further steps, confirming openness to engage with the new administration on the matter.
While 26 other EU member states have already had their defense funding plans approved under the SAFE program, Hungary’s application continues to await final endorsement from Brussels.
