Hungary Clears the Way to Join the EU Prosecutor

The European Commission has approved Hungary’s request to join the European Public Prosecutor's Office, the EU body set up to investigate fraud and corruption involving European funds. For Budapest, that means a place in a mechanism it once rejected as an intrusion; for Brussels, it means another member state brought under the same prosecutorial umbrella, at least on paper.

Hungary is expected to become the EPPO’s 25th member later this year. The practical steps are not glamorous, which is usually how Brussels prefers them: Hungary must put forward three eligible candidates for the selection process and build the institutional framework needed for a prosecutor to work in the country. Once that is done, the EPPO will be able to investigate alleged crimes linked to EU funds, including cases dating back to 1 June 2021, when the body was established.

The political shift is more striking than the paperwork. Péter Magyar, elected prime minister after winning April’s parliamentary elections, campaigned on promises to fight corruption and ended Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power. That alone explains much of the reversal. The previous government had refused EPPO membership, arguing that it would weaken Hungary’s sovereignty. Brussels, for its part, repeatedly accused the Orbán administration of posing a systemic corruption risk, and a large share of EU funds intended for Hungary was suspended.

Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the decision in a statement, saying that it was good news for Hungary and a welcome step in the fight against fraud and corruption. She also said the people of Hungary would now have a safeguard to ensure EU funds work in their interest. The Commission’s formal approval makes the accession possible, but not yet automatic; the machinery still has to be assembled before the first prosecutor can start work.

That leaves the usual question hanging over the grand European apparatus. Is this a genuine clean-up operation, or simply another layer of supervision imposed by an institution that likes to present itself as guardian, judge and accountant all at once? Hungary’s entry will be watched closely for that reason. Denmark and Ireland remain outside the EPPO because of their opt-outs from EU justice and home affairs cooperation, a reminder that even in the Union, not everyone is eager to hand over the keys.

Written by Christiane Hofreiter christiane.hofreiter@alpineweekly.com