Hungary joins the European Public Prosecutor’s Office: closing a chapter from the Orbán era

On Friday, the European Commission formally confirmed Hungary’s participation in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), making it the 25th EU member state to join. This decision followed a formal request submitted by the Hungarian government in late May 2026 under Prime Minister Péter Magyar.

The move marks a significant shift in Hungary’s relationship with the EU on matters of rule of law and financial accountability.

The Orbán period: resistance rooted in sovereignty concerns

For years under Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz-led governments (2010–2026), Hungary stood out as one of the few EU countries refusing to join the EPPO. Orbán’s administration argued that participation would undermine national sovereignty by allowing a supranational body to investigate crimes on Hungarian soil. This stance aligned with broader tensions between Budapest and Brussels over judicial independence, corruption allegations, and the use of EU funds.

On 28 May, I submitted Hungary's formal request to join the European Public Prosecutor's Office. Today, the European Commission confirmed our accession, making Hungary the 25th member state.
— Magyar Péter (Ne féljetek) (@magyarpeterMP) July 10, 2026

The EPPO, established in 2017 and operational since 2021, is the EU’s independent public prosecution office tasked with investigating and prosecuting fraud, corruption, money laundering, and other crimes affecting the Union’s financial interests. During the Orbán era, Hungary faced repeated EU criticism and measures, including the withholding of substantial funds from programs like the Recovery and Resilience Facility, due to concerns over rule-of-law standards and potential misuse of taxpayer money. Orbán’s government maintained working arrangements with the EPPO but declined full membership, keeping Hungary outside the enhanced cooperation framework that underpins the body.

The significance of Hungary’s accession

Hungary’s decision to join under the new Magyar government represents a clear policy reversal and a symbolic step toward restoring trust with EU institutions. Key aspects include:

Strengthened protection of EU funds: the EPPO will now have a permanent presence in Hungary, with European Delegated Prosecutors conducting investigations locally. This provides an independent layer of oversight to ensure EU money reaches its intended purposes.
Rule of law signal: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described it as “a welcome step in the fight against fraud and corruption” and “yet another fundamental step for rule of law in Hungary.” She noted that Hungarians will now have “a safeguard in place to ensure EU funds work in their interest.”
Potential scrutiny of past cases: the EPPO’s competence in Hungary covers crimes committed after June 1, 2021 (when it became operational EU-wide). This opens the possibility of investigating cases from the later Orbán years involving EU funds.
Unlocking funds and integration: the move is widely viewed as part of efforts to address rule-of-law milestones, potentially facilitating the release of previously frozen EU funds. It also marks a broader realignment, with Hungary re-engaging more constructively with EU mechanisms.
Institutional milestone: with Hungary’s accession, the EPPO Regulation transitions from enhanced cooperation to part of the standard EU acquis, meaning future member states will be expected to participate.

The decision enters into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal. Hungary will then nominate candidates for a European Prosecutor and European Delegated Prosecutors, with the EPPO becoming fully operational in the country once appointments are complete.

Why two EU countries remain outside the EPPO

With Hungary joining, 25 of the 27 EU member states now participate in the EPPO. The two exceptions are Denmark and Ireland, both due to their specific opt-out arrangements from the EU’s Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (AFSJ):

Denmark maintains a permanent opt-out from the AFSJ under its EU accession protocols. It does not participate in many justice and home affairs initiatives, including the EPPO. Judicial cooperation with Denmark continues through other EU instruments, supported by a working arrangement signed in 2023.

Ireland also holds an AFSJ opt-out, but its version is more flexible, allowing case-by-case participation. Ireland has expressed a firm intention to join the EPPO in the near future. Preparatory domestic work and operational cooperation are already underway, positioning it to opt in soon.

These opt-outs reflect long-standing national positions on sovereignty in criminal justice matters rather than opposition to the EPPO’s goals. With Hungary’s accession, nearly the entire EU is now aligned under this framework for protecting the common budget.

Caption: Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar attends a joint press conference at the Ministry of Finance in Budapest, Hungary, 26 June 2026. The Eurogroup president is meeting with Hungarian leadership to discuss macroeconomic developments and Eurogroup priorities. EPA/ROBERT HEGEDUS