EU Finance Ministers Unanimously Approve Hungary's Recovery Plan

European Union finance ministers have unanimously approved Hungary's recovery and resilience plan, unlocking billions of euros in EU funds for Budapest after years of disputes with Brussels over rule-of-law concerns. The unanimous vote by EU finance ministers clears the way for Hungary to access funding under the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility, a major post-pandemic investment program designed to help member states rebuild and modernize their economies. Hungary had been blocked from receiving the funds due to prolonged disagreements with EU institutions over issues including judicial independence, anti-corruption measures, and democratic standards. The approval marks a significant shift in relations between Budapest and Brussels. Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government, has faced repeated clashes with EU institutions over what critics described as democratic backsliding. The release of the funds had been contingent on Budapest implementing a series of reforms demanded by the European Commission, the EU's executive body. The green light from finance ministers signals that sufficient progress was deemed to have been made to justify unblocking the aid.