Hungary starts year with loss of more than €1 billion in EU subsidies

Hungary faces a loss of over €1 billion from EU funds due to ongoing rule of law issues, with the European Commission indicating that funds may be permanently lost. The Hungarian government disputes this, claiming it has met conditions for accessing the funds. Tensions between Hungary and the EU have escalated, with the government changing its strategy and framing the issue as political rather than legal. Despite some progress, the relationship remains strained, and future negotiations may be complicated by upcoming elections and budgetary constraints.