Hungarian PM Peter Magyar says EU Article‑7 case may close by October

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar briefed the press in Brussels after the European Council meeting, saying talks with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola aim to end the Article 7 procedure launched eight years ago over rule‑of‑law concerns. He projected that the case could be concluded in October, which would avoid the need for Hungary to repay EU funds or face further penalties.

Magyar also announced that the Tisza Party is likely to join the European People's Party in September. He reported diplomatic contacts with several neighbouring leaders – Greece’s prime minister on economic recovery lessons, Croatia’s Robert Fico ahead of the V4 summit, and Croatia’s Andrej Plenković on energy and the MOL/INA dispute – as well as with Austria’s Chancellor Christian Stocker on a bilateral working group to address asbestos contamination in western Hungary. He signed a document authorising EU‑outside return centres and house‑searches, and reiterated his stance on Ukraine’s EU accession.