Hungarian Foreign Minister’s talks with Bulgarian President involved regional cooperation and energy, despite claims of a migration alliance.
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A Hungarian Foreign Minister’s visit to Sofia, which was reported by him as involving discussions with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev about a joint EU stance against war and migration, is disputed by Mediapool because no such declaration exists from the Bulgarian side. The official communication only mentions discussions on strengthening European competitiveness and stability, regional cooperation, bilateral economic partnership, and energy transit, omitting any mention of a migration alliance, despite reports suggesting otherwise via the Russian news agency TASZSZ. Furthermore, the Bulgarian newspaper notes that government decisions are made by the cabinet, not the presidency, casting doubt on whether Szijjártó met with other officials besides Radev. Underlying the visit, sources suggest Hungary is interested in acquiring Lukoil’s subsidiary in Bulgaria, a topic previously linked to Viktor Orbán’s discussions about halting Russian gas transit. Despite these differing reports, both countries are seen as aligning against the principle of unanimous EU decision-making on foreign and security matters, with Bulgaria expressing concerns over unified EU actions regarding North Macedonia’s recognition of Bulgarian roots. Previously, Radev met with Hungarian officials in Budapest, where energy transit was a key topic, and he mentioned cooperation for countries facing migration transit challenges.
