Hungary's parliament debates Orbán-era nuclear deal with the US on small modular reactors
The parliament in Budapest debated on 4 November the civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States focused on small modular reactors (SMRs), signed in February by the Orbán government. The new government backs it: state secretary Áron Porcher called it "absolutely in the country's interest", while Fidesz demanded answers on Paks II.
EuroEnergy Newsroom · 
Hungary · 2 min read
Hungary's parliament on Wednesday, 4 November, debated the agreement with the United States on cooperation in the civil nuclear programme related to small modular reactors (SMRs), the MTI news agency reported, as carried by Portfolio. The agreement was signed on 16 February 2026 during US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Budapest, and Péter Magyar's government asked parliament in late October to make it legally binding, according to Reuters.
What the government says. Áron Porcher, parliamentary state secretary at the Ministry of Economy and Energy, recalled that the agreement had been signed by the previous government and called it "absolutely in the country's interest". He said nuclear power covers 45% of Hungary's energy consumption through the Paks plant, whose operation until 2050 is being examined. According to him, more than 127 experimental SMR projects are being tested, over 40 of them American, and the agreement allows Hungary to take part in development, knowledge sharing, regulation and cybersecurity.
What the agreement provides. Tisza MP Csaba Hatala-Orosz said the document does not in itself impose financial obligations on the state, creates a joint Hungarian-American operating organisation and steering committee, and provides for an independent 12-month technological and financial assessment after it enters into force.
The opposition. Olivér Hortay (Fidesz) spoke of a global "nuclear renaissance" but criticised the state secretary for saying nothing about the fate of the Paks II project, and called it naive to think wind farms could replace it. He also noted that the post of energy state secretary has been vacant for two weeks.
Context. In November 2025 Hungary agreed to buy American nuclear fuel for Paks, and the government is considering replacing Rosatom as main contractor for the plant's expansion, with a decision expected in late 2026 or early 2027, according to Reuters.
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