The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has cancelled a scheduled mission to Hungary aimed at discussing anti-bribery measures, citing the government's failure to act on longstanding recommendations. This marks the first time such a high-level mission has been called off.
The meeting, originally set for October 15-16, 2024, was scrapped due to the inability of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government to ensure adequate representation of ministers and senior officials. The OECD expressed concern over Hungary's lack of progress in addressing foreign bribery risks and enforcement.
Some of the OECD's recommendations date back over a decade and highlight issues such as the absence of a strategy for detecting foreign bribery and legal clarity regarding corporate responsibility. The OECD indicated that it would develop additional measures for the Hungarian government to re-engage at a suitable level.
Both the European Union and the United States have raised alarms about corruption linked to political figures in Hungary, leading to the suspension of billions in EU funding aimed at prompting reforms. Protests demanding the resignation of Orban and his chief prosecutor erupted in March following allegations of corruption from a former government insider.