Relationship dossier
France
Hungary
Relationship assessment
A strategic partnership tempered by disagreements over EU governance and policy toward Russia and Ukraine
France toward Hungary
+5France has pursued a strategic partnership with Hungary, renewed in 2021, and bilateral cooperation that includes nuclear energy. The French government has also clashed with Hungary over rule-of-law concerns and European policy toward Russia and Ukraine.
Hungary toward France
+5Hungary has maintained a strategic partnership with France and engaged in bilateral nuclear-energy cooperation. The Hungarian government has also diverged from French positions on EU rule-of-law measures and policy toward Russia and Ukraine.
Overall relationship
+10The relationship combines an enduring bilateral partnership and practical cooperation, including in nuclear energy, with recurring policy differences within the European Union. Those disagreements, particularly over rule-of-law measures and Russia and Ukraine, limit the depth of the partnership.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
France and Hungary maintain a cooperative bilateral framework, including a strategic partnership renewed in 2021 and cooperation on nuclear energy. Their governments also diverge over rule-of-law issues in the European Union and policy toward Russia and Ukraine. Cooperation is real but these disagreements limit the relationship.
Areas of tension
- Disagreements over EU rule-of-law measures concerning Hungary
- Differences over EU policy toward Russia and sanctions
- Differences over support for Ukraine
Key developments
France and Hungary renewed their strategic partnership.
The two governments pursued bilateral cooperation that included nuclear energy.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of bilateral nuclear-energy cooperation are unclear.
- The extent of direct bilateral cooperation beyond European Union and NATO frameworks is uncertain.