Orbán and Meloni discuss bilateral ties, migration, and Ukraine reconstruction in Rome

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni received Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in her office on Wednesday, Orbán’s press chief said.

Meloni congratulated Orbán on Hungary’s successful EU presidency, especially with regards to the Budapest declaration on competitiveness and to opening accession negotiations with Albania, Bertalan Havasi said. During Hungary’s tenure, there had been a “breakthrough” in Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area too, she said.

Meloni and Orbán reiterated their commitment to further deepening their countries’ bilateral partnership, and said that trade reached 14 billion euros in 2023. There is room for further improvement, too, especially in the infrastructure and energy sectors, they said.

The prime ministers pledged to boost the intensity of political dialogue, and to coordinate on the most important international issues. They discussed the situation in the Middle East and a “fair and sustainable peace in Ukraine, based on the UN Charter and the principles of international law.”

They also talked about their commitment to reconstruction in Ukraine, in preparation for a conference on the topic slated to be held in July 2025 in Italy.

Italian-Hungarian cooperation is thriving in defence and security within the framework of NATO, especially regarding the 260 Italian troops in the multinational battalion under Hungarian command, they said. The two countries continue to support NATO and EU initiatives aiming to stabilise the Western Balkans, and support the EU integration of the region, the prime ministers said.