Household Utility Prices in Hungary Remain Lowest in EU, Exorbitant Convenience Fees Abolished – Weekly Roundup

Household utility prices in Hungary remain the lowest in the EU. The European Court of Justice ruling does not in any way limit or slow down the Paks II project, and good news has come about the output of the construction sector. Here is our weekly roundup.

Gas contract with Shell is central to diversification (Photo: MTI/Zsolt Czegledi)

No Obstacles: Rosatom Continues with Paks II

In a statement to Vilaggazdasag, Rosatom said that the project is important for the Hungarian economy, and that commissioning the nuclear power plant will ensure a stable and affordable source of electricity for the country. Therefore, together with its Hungarian partners, it will continue implementing the Paks II nuclear power plant project. The response came after the European Court’s ruling on Thursday.

The Court of Justice of the European Union annulled the decision that had approved the support agreement for the Paks II project, arguing that when granting approval, the Commission should have ascertained whether directly awarding the contract for building the two new reactors to a Russian company was in line with EU public procurement rules.

Rosatom emphasized in its statement that its primary task remains the implementation of the project in full compliance with the highest international safety standards and all contractual obligations.

Good News About Construction Output

In July, construction output was 4.9 percent higher than a year earlier. Within the main construction groups, construction of buildings grew by 5.7 percent, and civil engineering works by 4.7 percent. Based on seasonally and working day adjusted indices, the sector’s performance was 0.8 percent higher than in June 2025, reported the Central Statistical Office (KSH).

Construction already made a meaningful contribution to economic growth in the second quarter, and the latest data indicate this could continue in the third quarter as well. The sector is being driven partly by state orders, particularly road construction projects, as shown by order book data. At the same time, housing subsidies – such as the Housing Capital Program and the Home Start Program – have boosted demand, which could bring significant growth in residential construction too.