On June 11, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze commenced an official visit to Hungary, where he met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Budapest. The visit began with a formal welcoming ceremony at the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Palace, where national anthems were played, and both leaders introduced their respective cabinet members.
During their meeting, Prime Minister Orbán praised Georgia’s economic performance, stating, “If someone achieves over 1% economic growth, it is a great success. Therefore, your 7% growth is a galactic phenomenon. I know this is truly the result of your immense efforts.”
Prime Minister Kobakhidze reciprocated, emphasizing the importance of mutual support, saying, “Georgia will always stand where the interests of the Hungarian people lie, and we feel a duty to reciprocate your support.”
The leaders also discussed the European Union, with Prime Minister Kobakhidze expressing concerns about the EU’s bureaucracy, pointing to “not only biased rhetoric, but also problematic practices, including financial support for extremist groups and interference in Georgia’s electoral processes.”
“We’ve seen repeated cases where institutions linked to the European bureaucracy have funded extremist activities and interfered in our elections,” Kobakhidze claimed. ‘This shows a troubling lack of respect for Georgia’s state sovereignty—something we find deeply regrettable.”
Despite these challenges, the PM reaffirmed Georgia’s commitment to its EU aspirations.
“For us, the EU has long represented justice, and we want it to remain that way. Unfortunately, some bureaucrats are undermining that image. Still, we will persist on our path toward EU membership. We hope that by the time Georgia is ready to join, this attitude will have changed.”
He expressed optimism about Europe’s future and reiterated Georgia’s desire to be part of a fair and principled European Union: “Our goal is clear—EU membership in a union where countries are judged fairly. In this regard, I want to sincerely thank Prime Minister Orbán and the Hungarian government for their consistent and just support. Hungary stands out for its fairness, and we are truly grateful for that.”
Advancing Bilateral Ties
The visit included the second session of the Georgia–Hungary Intergovernmental Commission, convened in Budapest. Kobakhidze described it as a vital mechanism for tracking progress and planning future cooperation.
“This format, launched two years ago, marks its second meeting this year. It has provided us the opportunity to assess the progress made and to map out future plans together.”
Key areas of cooperation discussed included trade, energy, agriculture, education, connectivity, defense, justice, and cultural exchange. Several memoranda of understanding were signed during the summit to expand collaboration.
“We can confidently say there is vast potential for deepening cooperation in all these areas, and we are committed to realizing it fully.”
Kobakhidze also underlined the importance of business-to-business cooperation, stating that beyond political support, the economic partnership must flourish: “Our political dialogue is particularly close, as demonstrated by the frequent high-level visits and exchanges. Today’s discussions also underscored the importance of enhancing not only government-to-government collaboration but also business partnerships.”
The visit, marked by symbolic gestures and concrete agreements, reinforces Georgia’s intent to balance deepening ties with friendly EU states like Hungary while pushing back against what it sees as unfair treatment from Brussels. The momentum, as both leaders agreed, is in the direction of closer bilateral cooperation and renewed efforts toward European integration on Georgia’s terms.
By Team GT
