Implementation of Hungary’s Country-Specific Recommendations in European Comparison

This chapter reviews the functioning of the European Semester and examines how the Orbán government—in power since the system’s introduction in 2011—has responded to the European Commission’s country-specific recommendations. The national-level analysis of these recommendations demonstrates that European integration influences member states not only through robust, binding instruments and exclusive competences but also via softer policy coordination mechanisms. According to the Commission’s long-term assessment, Hungary achieved at least some progress on half of the recommendations by 2019, a performance comparable to that of other Visegrád countries. However, since then, the Hungarian government’s commitment to implementing the recommendations has sharply declined, with Hungary ranking last in the European Union since 2019. No progress has been made in reducing dependence on fossil fuels, enhancing the predictability of the regulatory environment, or strengthening the social safety net and social dialogue. Furthermore, public policy cooperation between the European Commission and the Hungarian government is hampered by disputes that extend beyond differences in policy substance or governmental priorities, evolving into an increasingly politicized process.