Hungary’s Prime Minister Peter Magyar has begun a two-day visit to Poland, marking his first foreign trip since taking office and signalling a potential reset in relations with the European Union.
The visit is being seen as highly symbolic for a leader seeking to reposition Hungary closer to Europe’s political mainstream, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.
Magyar is due to meet Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on May 20, following a political shift in Poland in 2023 when Tusk led a pro-European coalition to power and moved to repair ties with Brussels, unlocking billions of euros in previously frozen EU funds linked to rule-of-law disputes.
Observers say Magyar is attempting a similar course reversal following his election victory over nationalist former premier Viktor Orban in April.
Tusk has previously framed Magyar’s win as part of a broader regional shift away from Eurosceptic nationalism.
Relations between Budapest and Warsaw deteriorated in recent years amid sharp disagreements over Hungary’s stance on Ukraine and its relations with Russia, leaving bilateral contacts largely frozen.
A Polish government official said the visit is intended as a symbolic reset aimed at restoring dialogue on European affairs and the war in Ukraine.
“It is very clear that they want to restore relations with Poland to a very good level,” the official said, adding that the trip represented “gestures showing a return to the best traditions of strong bilateral ties.”
Magyar’s itinerary includes stops in Krakow, Warsaw and the Baltic port city of Gdansk. He is also travelling by train to the capital using what he described as a high-speed rail line funded by the European Union.
The Hungarian leader referenced the journey in political terms, noting his use of infrastructure he linked to EU funding while echoing domestic debates in Hungary over Brussels’ role.
He also made it clear that the rail trip was part of a broader vision to eventually develop a high-speed connection between Warsaw and Budapest.
Magyar is travelling with several senior ministers, including officials responsible for foreign affairs, energy, transport and defence. He said their presence reflected the breadth of issues on the agenda.
Energy security is expected to feature prominently in talks, with Magyar pledging to end Hungary’s dependence on Russian energy by 2035.
Poland is reportedly considering offering Hungary access to US liquefied natural gas via a new terminal in Gdansk, expected to become operational in 2028. Polish energy group Orlen has already been supplying US LNG to Ukraine.
Discussions are also expected to cover support for Ukraine and the future of regional cooperation within the Visegrad Group of Central European countries.
Hungary is also seeking Polish backing in talks aimed at unfreezing EU funds linked to rule-of-law concerns, a process seen as both political and procedural in nature, according to analysts.
By Bakhtiyar Abbasov
