Story perspectives

Magyar’s government unlocks €16.4 billion in EU funds

By Drooid · Oct 23, 2026, 6:25 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Prime Minister Péter Magyar hosted a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the 1956 uprising.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa attended as senior representatives.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy missed the ceremony, citing late invitations.
Magyar’s remarks linking French riots to migration drew criticism from Macron.
Three weeks after taking office, Magyar’s government unlocked €16.4 billion ($18.4 billion) in EU funds through reforms.

History

Historical Context

From the 23 October 1956 student protests that sparked a 15-day uprising, the Soviet army crushed Imre Nagy’s reform government, killing about 2,500 Hungarians and prompting roughly 200,000 to flee. Decades later, Hungary’s 70th-anniversary ceremony, attended by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, links that legacy to current EU funding decisions.

1 of 2

Story summary

Prime Minister Péter Magyar hosted a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the 1956 uprising.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa attended as senior representatives.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy missed the ceremony, citing late invitations.
Magyar’s remarks linking French riots to migration drew criticism from Macron.
Three weeks after taking office, Magyar’s government unlocked €16.4 billion ($18.4 billion) in EU funds through reforms.

1 / 2