Key facts
- Norway and Hungary agreed to restart grant payments totaling €254.1 million ($285 million).
- The agreement covers the 2021-2028 funding period, with payments possible until April 2031.
- Payments were halted for ten years due to disagreements with the previous Hungarian government.
- The new government in Hungary, led by Peter Magyar, facilitated the restart.
- Norway provides 97% of the funding, supporting cooperation in democracy, rule of law, and press freedom.
Norway has agreed to resume grant payments to Hungary after a decade-long suspension, signaling improved relations under the new Hungarian government led by Peter Magyar. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide announced the agreement, which will see €254.1 million ($285 million) disbursed under the European Economic Area and Norway Grants scheme for the 2021-2028 period. The scheme was previously halted due to disagreements with the former government over the management of funds. Norway, which funds 97% of the scheme, seeks to support cooperation in areas such as democracy, rule of law, and press freedom. The restart follows the European Commission's decision to unfreeze €16.4 billion in EU recovery funds for Hungary, also attributed to reforms under the new administration.