Details of the Agreement Between Hungary and Russia Signed in December Revealed

In December last year, Hungary and Russia formalized an agreement that outlines a framework for enhanced cooperation between the two nations. This agreement, reported by the publication "European Truth" and sourced from Politico, focuses on active coordination in several critical areas, including nuclear energy, education, and sports.

According to documents that have come to light, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko signed a 12-point plan that delineates the avenues for collaboration and the degree of alignment in actions between the two governments across various sectors. This agreement was finalized during the 16th meeting of the Russian-Hungarian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation, held in Moscow on December 9.

During this meeting, representatives from both sides discussed bilateral trade and economic cooperation, as well as joint activities in vital sectors such as energy, industry, healthcare, agriculture, and construction. This indicates that both countries are keen to strengthen their economic ties, despite the existing political and economic challenges they face.

Among the key points of the agreement is a commitment to reverse the negative trend in bilateral trade, which has been observed since the European Union imposed sanctions against Russia. The agreement also opens new opportunities for Russian companies looking to initiate new projects in electricity and hydrogen production in Hungary, as well as for closer collaboration in oil, gas, and nuclear fuel sectors.

Furthermore, Budapest has agreed to explore the possibility of enhancing Russian-language education within the country. This initiative involves recruiting teachers from Russia and accelerating the mutual recognition of qualifications, along with establishing exchange programs for postgraduate students. The agreement also includes support from the Hungarian government for ongoing exchange programs with Russia across all fields, from sports to circus arts.

One document related to the agreement notes that closer ties with Russia should not contradict Hungary's obligations stemming from its European Union membership. This suggests that the Hungarian side is attempting to balance its national interests with its commitments to the EU.

When questioned about the contents of the agreement and its impact on Hungary's political trajectory, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto stated that bilateral cooperation is driven by the country's national interests and not by pressure from liberal media, which he perceives as biased.

It is worth noting that prior to this, media outlets obtained a transcript of a conversation between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin that took place in the fall. In this conversation, the Hungarian Prime Minister assured Putin of friendship and offered assistance in resolving the war in Ukraine. On March 31, audio recordings surfaced revealing discussions between the foreign ministers of Hungary and Russia, shedding light on their contacts amid a scandal regarding Budapest's potential sharing of details from closed discussions within the EU with Moscow.