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14th May, 2026
EC could unlock euro 34bn for Hungary
The European Commission could unlock euro 34 billion for Hungary in the coming weeks as positive decisions affecting Hungary will follow one after another, HVG reports.
The Commission believes that the new Hungarian government has made substantial progress in honouring the conditions of the rule of law and transparency and so the country’s chances of accessing the frozen funds have considerably improved.
The pandemic recovery funds are at the centre of negotiations, as the accessible funds and loans still exceed euro 17 billion.
In addition, the Commission is expected to positively evaluate the Hungarian plans submitted to the SAFE joint defence programme which could mean a further euro 16-17 billion.
Prime Minister Peter Magyar and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen could sign a political agreement in Brussels on May 25 as part of the process and the Hungarian government will submit a modified recovery plan two days later.
Some EU funds lost earlier, however, cannot be regained, as euro 3 billion was definitively lost due to the Orban government’s inaction on rule of law concerns.
The aim of the extremely complex process currently underway is to ensure that Hungary receives the recovery funds – and on time – by ensuring the transparent spending of EU funds, HVG writes. If these conditions are met, other frozen funds will also be released.
“We are making very good progress, and there is a serious chance of drawing down 100% of the recovery funds, according to a source in the Commission.
Brussels sources say it enhances the negotiating position of the new cabinet that it adopts a more co-operative position on several EU issues earlier blocked. (hvg.hu; klubradio.hu)
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14th May, 2026
Construction output 2% higher
Construction industry output rose by 2% year-on-year in March, according to workday-adjusted figures released by the Central Statistics Office on Wednesday, while unadjusted data show 3.9% growth.
Construction of buildings was 5.4% higher than one year earlier, but the construction of other objects fell by 8.3%.
Construction output rose by 0.5% from the previous month, according to adjusted figures.
The volume of new contracts decreased by 2.9%. Within this, new contracts for edifice construction fell by 19.2% but new contracts for construction of other objects were 26.2% higher than one year earlier.
The volume of all contracts was 4.8% higher at the end of March than a year earlier. Total building construction contracts dropped by 4.6% but the total of contracts for other projects went up by 9.2%.
However, first-quarter output of the construction sector shrank by 4.2% year-on-year. (ksh.hu; portfolio.hu; novekedes.hu; 444.hu; telex.hu; magyarnemzet.hu)
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14th May, 2026
4% industrial expansion confirmed
Final workday-adjusted figures confirm 3.7% year-on-year growth in industrial production in March, the Central Statistics Office announced on Wednesday.
Unadjusted data show output 6.7% higher than one year earlier.
On a monthly basis, output rose by 3.1% from February to March, according to both seasonally and workday-adjusted data.
Production for both export and domestic sales rose by 3.2% year-on-year in volume terms.
Manufacturing output, accounting for 95% of the total, increased by 7%, while mining output went up by 7.5% and energy industry output increased by 2.3%.
Vehicle production rose by 3.7%, as car production shot up by 5.6% and car parts production slightly increased by 0.4%.
For the first quarter, exports, accounting for 64% of industrial production, saw 1.5% growth while domestic sales were down by 2.5%.
Website 444 adds that EV battery production is expanding rapidly, as output in March was 34% higher than one year earlier. (ksh.hu; 444.hu; mfor.hu; portfolio.hu; telex.hu)
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14th May, 2026
New car market reaches 9.7% growth
A total of 11,832 new passenger cars were sold in April, a 9.7% increase from the same month of 2025, according to the Car Importers Association (MGE).
After adjustments, net market growth reached 11.4%.
In the first four months, a total of 48,291 new passenger cars were sold.
Sales of fully electric vehicles reached 1,420 last month, more than double the level recorded a year earlier, and were 48.4% higher, year on year in the first four months at 4,618.
The growth was supported by state subsidies, corporate fleet purchases and a broader range of available models.
The stronger forint of recent weeks may also be a factor, the MGE remarks.
The light commercial vehicle segment declined moderately, with 7,285 new registrations in the first four months of the year.
By contrast, the heavy commercial vehicle market expanded by 6.2%, supported by fleet renewal programmes, European logistics and infrastructure investments, and a gradual recovery in freight demand. (portfolio.hu)
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