Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has formally requested the European Union to refund the daily migration fines imposed on Hungary, totaling €1 million per day, as his government seeks to resolve long-standing disputes over asylum policies.
The EU imposed a €200 million lump sum and ongoing daily penalties in 2024 after Hungary failed to comply with a 2020 European Court of Justice ruling mandating fair treatment for asylum seekers. The court had previously ruled that Hungary violated EU law by restricting asylum applications to its Belgrade consulate and rejecting most claims. Hungary’s border fence with Serbia and restrictive policies have led to nearly €1 billion in accumulated fines.
Following his April electoral victory, Magyar pledged to address the fines swiftly. However, Hungary has incurred an additional €69 million in penalties since he assumed office. Magyar criticized the fines as stemming from an “over-politicised decision” and argued that current EU priorities favor stricter migration controls, making the penalties unjustified.
“Europe’s stance on migration is shifting decisively. Almost all member states now support more aggressive measures to deter illegal migration,” Magyar stated. He emphasized that Hungary should not bear the financial burden alone for policies aligned with broader EU trends.
The EU has recently advanced initiatives to externalize migration management, including Italy’s asylum center in Albania and agreements with third countries for returns. Magyar called for reimbursement of all fines paid to date and an additional €2 billion in withheld post-pandemic recovery funds, citing missed deadlines in 2024 and 2025.
“We will not allow this funding to be wasted. The solution is urgent, and I am confident we will recover these resources, as the EU budget requires unanimous approval,” Magyar said. Hungary must finalize reforms tied to a May agreement with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to access €16.4 billion in previously frozen recovery and cohesion funds.
