Budapest, August 15, 2025 – Hungary’s merger control regime is running efficiently, with most cases resolved quickly and with minimal administrative burden, according to the latest episode of the Hungarian Competition Authority’s (GVH) podcast series.
In the episode, Attila Dudra, a member of the GVH Competition Council, explained how the authority reviews mergers, acquisitions, and other forms of control that may significantly impact the economy. He highlighted the GVH’s multi-tiered review system, which allows for fast-track approval of straightforward cases while reserving more detailed scrutiny for complex transactions.
“The system is designed to speed up simple assessments while ensuring that potentially problematic deals receive full attention,” Dudra said. Companies are encouraged to consult GVH experts before filing merger notifications, which helps prevent delays caused by missing information.
The streamlined process means most mergers are cleared at the first stage. Since 2018, the average processing time for issuing an official certificate – the outcome in most straightforward cases – has been just four days. In 2024, GVH issued 70 merger decisions, with 62 (almost 90%) closed by certificate due to their clear admissibility.
More complex cases take longer: simplified procedures averaged 26 days last year, while full-scale investigations took around 78 days. The mergers reviewed by the authority spanned key areas of the Hungarian economy, including trade, manufacturing, energy, and financial and insurance services.
To further ease the burden on businesses, GVH has also introduced simplified notification forms for certain types of mergers. These accounted for nearly a third of filings in 2024.
The conversation with Dudra, along with other episodes of the GVH Podcast, is available on the authority’s website, YouTube channel, and Spotify.
