Hungary received a total of 104.53 million euros for domestic affairs for the 2021-2027 period, a sum that was "nearly double" the amount received over the previous period, "from 2014 to 2020, worth 59.2 million," a European Commission spokesperson said.

"Hungary, moreover, received emergency assistance from the home affairs fund to provide support to people fleeing the Russian war in Ukraine through direct management", the spokesperson noted, adding that "home affairs funding is provided within the limits of the EU budget and integrated with national funding."

Also read: Seeking asylum in Hungary: Does the current system violate European asylum law?

Appeal announced by Budapest

The Hungarian government headed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced an appeal against the EU to recover funds pledged to protect the country's borders. Budapest claims it never received financial assistance from Brussels.

Hungary, moreover, has refused to pay a record fine of 200 million euros inflicted by the European Court of Justice in June for not abiding by a previous sentence stating Hungary had failed to respect European asylum legislation.

In this regard, the EU Commission on Tuesday (September 3) urged Hungary to pay after the country failed to comply following a first letter to request the payment on July 16. Budapest now has 15 days to pay the sum. If it fails to abide by the request, the commission will detract the sum from funding it is set to pay to the country.

Also read: EU fines Hungary €200 million for flouting asylum laws

Fine for failing to respect asylum laws for migrants

The procedure is different for the sentence's second pillar -- a one-million-euro fine for each day of delay Budapest has in abiding by asylum legislation.

Budapest rejects it as an imposition. In this regard, the Commission has asked Hungary which measures it intends to adopt to comply with the sentence and on which basis a decision will be taken.

Also read: What will Hungary's EU presidency mean for migrants?