Hungary and Bavaria deepen ties as Minister-President Markus Söder visits Budapest

Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban said she will expand cooperation with Bavaria, noting that about 100,000 Hungarians live in the German state and that BMW and Audi are key investors in Hungary’s economy. She made the remarks at a CSU summer retreat in the Bavarian monastery of Banz, ahead of Bavarian Minister‑President Markus Söder’s visit to Budapest.

Söder’s two‑day Southeast‑Europe trip began with a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar, aimed at reviving a stalled bilateral relationship, strengthening university collaboration and boosting economic links. He also sought Hungarian backing in the EU debate on the proposed ban on internal‑combustion engines. After Budapest, Söder travelled to Athens for talks with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and then to Moldova, where he pledged support for the country’s EU accession bid.