The EU funds were one of the topics that came up at our latest CEO Boardroom Meeting, held at the Matild Palace on the morning of Tuesday, June 2. Remarkably, this high-level event, which brings together top diplomats and CEOs, is now celebrating its fifth anniversary. I remember our very first breakfast at the hotel back in June 2021. It had not yet officially opened, so we were its first business event. The waitstaff were still following COVID protocols, which meant they were wearing face masks. It both seems an age ago and yet as fresh as if it were yesterday.

At the heart of the CEO Boardroom Meeting is a moderated roundtable discussion, featuring some of the leading business brains and experts from the Big Four and specialist consultancies, who have been generous in sharing their expertise and knowledge with our guests over the years. One of our speakers this time praised the preparatory work of Tisza in the interregnum between its landslide election victory and assuming power, when it was already meeting with European Commission officials. “I think that two- or three-week period may have been vital,” in paving the way, he said.

Our speakers agreed that the 2030 target for joining the euro may be “ambitious.” When PwC asked more than 200 Hungarian CEOs at the end of 2025 when they expected to use the common currency, the majority said 2033. Given that before adopting the currency, an economy needs to have met all the Maastricht convergence criteria and then successfully maintained them within the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (also known as the ERM2 “waiting room”), that seems a more realistic earliest likely date.

There was also consensus that the markets may have indulged too liberally in the heady brew of the newfound positivity around Hungary, its improving relationship with the EU, and talk of adopting the euro, as judged by the strength of the currency. The stronger forint certainly helps Hungary manage its debts. But, while it also dampens import prices, it creates a headache for manufacturers that depend on exports.

More than anything, though, was the agreement that finding the revenue to balance the budget, pay for all those election promises, and keep the deficit in check (itself a critical waymarker toward euro adoption) is where the real hard work will be required. As yet, we have very little indication of how Tisza intends to do this. In part, that may be because the focus until now was on those EU funds. One of the relatively few areas where we have been given policy is the prohibition on third-country workers due to come in from June 1, although no legislation has been brought forward yet. As one of our speakers put it, perhaps there is an argument for the ban, but it has not yet been made. Instead, an idea has been imposed without consultation. “That’s exactly what we were complaining about with the old government,” he said. Clear, transparent, consistent communication is the order of the day; it’s time to roll up the sleeves.

Robin Marshall

Editor-in-chief

This editorial was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of June 5, 2026.