Hungary’s Prime Minister Péter Magyar to Meet German Chancellor and French President

Hungary's Prime Minister Péter Magyar will meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday and French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday. The visits mark his second major European diplomatic tour since taking office after a landslide election victory over Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party in early May.

Magyar will be received by Merz at noon, with a joint press conference scheduled for 1pm, according to a statement from the German Chancellor's Office.

During their talks, bilateral and European matters will be discussed, with continued support for Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic security also taking centre stage, the statement said. Details of the Paris meeting with Macron have not yet been disclosed. Magyar last week visited Warsaw and Vienna as part of efforts to restore Hungary's standing within the European mainstream.

4 billion in EU funds that had been blocked over concerns about corruption and the erosion of the rule of law. 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. Disbursement of the 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 EU also expects Hungary to lift its veto on Ukraine's accession to the EU. Magyar has promised to green-light the process once Ukraine guarantees the educational and language rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine.