Hungary joins the European Public Prosecutor’s Office

Hungary has officially become the 25th member of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) following the acceptance of its accession request on July 10, 2026. This development marks a significant shift in the country’s criminal justice landscape and its relationship with EU oversight.

For nearly a decade, the ruling Fidesz–KDNP coalition had blocked accession, citing concerns that national sovereignty would be compromised by allowing an external authority to bring charges against Hungarian citizens. However, political figures such as Péter Magyar have suggested that relinquishing a small amount of sovereignty may be necessary to secure the release of EU funds.

With this accession, all EU member states except Denmark are now part of the EPPO agreement. The move is expected to have major implications for the recovery of misused EU assets and the overall structure of the Hungarian criminal justice system.