Robert Hegedus / EPA
Tisza leader and elected Prime Minister of Hungary Peter Magyar
The rapprochement with Austria is part of Magyar’s broader strategy, which wants to create a strong bloc in central Europe and merge regional alliances.
Hungary’s elected Prime Minister Péter Magyar wants to leave behind his predecessor’s hostile-to-European foreign policy and revitalize regional cooperation based on shared historical and economic ties.
Following his recent electoral victory over then-leader Viktor Orbán, Magyar outlined plans to strengthen alliances with neighboring countriesin particular Austria, while building a broader bloc of Central European states.
Magyar emphasized Hungary’s historical connection with Austria, which dates back to Austro-Hungarian Empire. “We used to share a country, and Austria is one fundamental economic partner to Hungary. I would like to strengthen the relationship between Hungary and Austria for historical, but also cultural and economic reasons,” said Magyar after his victory over Viktor Orbán.
His first official visits are expected to include Austria and Poland, signaling a dual strategy to strengthen regional ties and learning from Warsaw’s recent efforts to restore relations with the EU.
A central point of Magyar’s vision is the idea of merge existing regional alliances. Orbán’s successor has already proposed combining the Visegrád Group — which includes Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia — with the Slavkov format, which unites Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The objective is to create a more coordinated Central European bloc, capable of exerting greater influence in Brussels, similar to the Benelux cooperation model, says the .
Magyar’s broader agenda includes bring Hungary closer to the EUunlocking billions in funds frozen due to disputes over the rule of law during Orbán’s government and lifting ongoing financial sanctions related to migration policy.
Austria has demonstrated openness to closer collaboration. Economic ties between the two countries are already strong, with Austria being among the Hungary’s biggest investors and tens of thousands of Hungarians working across the border. Analysts note that deeper regional integration could increase the bloc’s negotiating power within the EU, particularly regarding financing and infrastructure projects.
Its strategy reflects a broader ambition: to position Central Europe as a most unified and influential force within the EUcapable of balancing the dominance of larger member states, such as France and Germany.
