Hungarian PM Magyar looks to revive - and expand - Visegrad group
politico.eu • • world
Key Points:
- Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar aims to revive the Visegrad Four (V4) as a significant force in EU diplomacy and is considering expanding the group to include Austria, Romania, and Western Balkan countries.
- The V4, currently composed of Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, has weakened due to internal divisions, particularly between Magyar’s predecessor Viktor Orbán and Poland’s Donald Tusk.
- Magyar’s first international trip as prime minister to Warsaw signals a commitment to rebuilding regional alliances, with plans to possibly hold a V4 summit in Budapest before the end of June.
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized strong bilateral cooperation with Hungary, especially in energy security, offering Poland’s experience in reducing dependence on Russian gas and oil.
- Magyar contrasted his approach with Orbán’s, praising Poland’s effective use of EU funds for infrastructure, and highlighted intentions to strengthen cooperation within the region and the EU.