Statement by Foreign Minister Wadephul prior to his departure for Hungary

Foreign Minister Wadephul issued the following statement today (14 September 2026) prior to his departure for Budapest: Hungary and Germany are embarking on a new chapter together.  Today, I will be the first German Foreign Minister to visit Hungary in almost seven years. This shows that we have a great deal of ground to make up. However, the political shift in Hungary presents an opportunity to swiftly put our relations back on a footing of reliability and mutual trust, so I am travelling there with the hope that Hungary is rediscovering its passion for Europe and that the continent as a whole will feel this. Hungary’s new Government has launched key reforms in a short space of time. The return to the rule of law and the implementation of EU provisions are good news for Europe, but primarily for the people in Hungary itself, as the rule of law and reliable rules are crucial for public trust in the state and for willingness on the part of Hungarian and international companies to take the decision to invest. If companies from all EU Member States can once again rely on a level playing field, this will be of huge benefit to the Hungarian economy. German companies al...