Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar is set to visit Berlin on Tuesday and Paris on Wednesday, continuing his diplomatic push to reintegrate Budapest into the European mainstream. The trip marks his second major European tour since taking office in early May, following a landslide victory over Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party.
Magyar will meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at noon on Tuesday, with a joint press conference scheduled for 1pm, according to a statement from the German Chancellor's Office. The talks will cover bilateral and European matters, with continued support for Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic security taking centre stage. Details of the Wednesday meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace have not yet been disclosed.
The visits come days after Magyar secured a political agreement with the European Commission to unlock €16.4 billion in EU funds that had been frozen over concerns about corruption and the erosion of the rule of law under the previous government. Of that total, €10 billion drawn from the EU's post-Covid recovery facility will be forfeited unless Hungary meets all outstanding conditions by the end of August.
A Strategic Reset
Magyar, who visited Warsaw and Vienna two weeks ago, has made restoring Hungary's standing within the European Union the centrepiece of his foreign policy agenda. The former Orbán ally turned reformist has pledged to reverse the democratic backsliding that characterised Hungary's relationship with Brussels over the past decade.
The disbursement of the frozen funds requires the approval of all EU member states. Speaking in Brussels last week, Magyar said he was in talks with several national leaders to secure their backing. The agreement with the Commission represents a significant breakthrough, but the August deadline adds urgency to his diplomatic efforts.
Hungary's return to the European mainstream has broader implications for the bloc's unity, particularly on issues such as support for Ukraine and the rule of law. Under Orbán, Budapest frequently clashed with Brussels over judicial independence, media freedom, and the treatment of migrants. Magyar has signalled a sharp departure from that approach.
In a related development, Magyar has proposed a constitutional change to enable the removal of the president, a move seen as part of his broader reform agenda. The proposal, if passed, would further distance his government from the Orbán era's concentration of power.
The German and French visits are also expected to address Hungary's role in European energy security and its position on the ongoing war in Ukraine. Berlin and Paris have been key players in shaping the EU's response to the conflict, and Magyar's alignment with their positions could help rebuild trust.
Magyar's diplomatic offensive is not without risks. The August deadline for the recovery funds is tight, and any failure to meet the conditions could reignite tensions with Brussels. Moreover, his reform agenda faces domestic opposition from remnants of the Fidesz-era bureaucracy and a sceptical public.
Nevertheless, the trip to Berlin and Paris signals a clear intent to reset Hungary's relationship with its European partners. As Magyar put it in Brussels, "We are committed to meeting our obligations and restoring Hungary's place in the European family." The coming weeks will test whether that commitment translates into tangible results.
