Hungary’s Anti-Corruption Office Seeks EU Funds Probe

Officials in the government of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban should face investigation over billions of euros in EU funds that may have been misused, according to Hungary’s Integrity Authority. Its head, Ferenc Pal Biro, said there were cases in which the state should try to recover the money.

The authority pointed out that three companies had received most of the state contracts under scrutiny, with prices allegedly inflated. Biro said the state had spent about €10bn ($10.8bn) through the firms over the past four years. The authority estimates that the contracts may have been overpriced by as much as €3.5bn ($3.8bn). He declined to identify the companies.

The Integrity Authority was created in 2022 under reforms demanded by Brussels to oversee the use of EU funds. Biro did not directly accuse Orban or his associates, but said senior politicians could face criminal liability.

Prime Minister Peter Magyar is trying to persuade the European Commission to release more than €10bn ($10.8bn) in funds withheld from Hungary over rule-of-law concerns. His government also wants Hungary to join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, a step Orban had long resisted.

(politico, bak)