Budapest

Cultural and educational cooperation

Cultural and educational cooperation have always played an important role in Estonia-Hungary relations. From 1998 to 2024, the Estonian Institute operated in Budapest. Anyone interested in Estonian culture could obtain practical advice, as well as comprehensive cultural information from the institute. Every spring, the institute organized a weeklong series of events called “Estonian Days” in Hungary. In 1992, the Liszt Institute – Tallinn Hungarian Cultural Center started its activities in Estonia.

The Estonian-Hungarian Society has been active in Tallinn since 1990. Hungarians residing in Estonia established the Munkácsy Mihály Hungarians’ Association. There is an active Hungarian-Estonian Society in Budapest led by Honorary Consul András Bereczki.

Estonia and Hungary also have an exchange program for teachers and students. Estonian language lecturer works in Budapest at Loránd Eötvös Univerity, while a Hungarian language lecturer teaches at the University of Tartu.

Defence cooperation

Hungary joined the NATO Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in 2010, contributing to its budget and having two of its representatives in Tallinn. From 2015, Hungary contributes to the Baltic air policing mission. Hungary’s rotations took place in 2015, 2017 and 2022, from the air base located in Šiauliai, Lithuania and will continue in the future. A total of 12 Hungarians have studied at the Baltic Defense College. One Hungarian officer participates in the Estonian NATO Force Integration Unit.

Trade

Estonian-Hungarian trade in goods amounted to €162.4 million in 2023, which was 0.4% of the total trade and gave 30th place in the ranking of countries.

Exports to Hungary amounted to €72.1 million in 2023, which made Estonia the 32th largest export partner. A year earlier, exports amounted to € 62,4 million (annual increase of +15.4%). The main export items in 2023 were electrical equipment (21.7%), animal and vegetable fats and oils (10,5%), various base metal products (9,5%) and wood products (9,5%).

In 2023, Estonia imported goods worth €90.3 million from Hungary, which made Hungary its 26th import partner. A year earlier, imports totalled €88.9 million (+0,8% annual growth). The most imported goods were electrical equipment (23,5%), mechanical machines (20,6%) and plastic products (12,6%).

Estonian-Hungarian trade in 2020–2023:

(source: Statistics Estonia)

As of 1 April 2024, there are 1 232 Hungarian citizens who are e-residents, of whom 406 have registered their company in Estonia.

Friendships partnerships at the local (municipal) government level have existed for many years. A Partnership and Cooperation Agreement has been entered into between the following cities: Tartu and Veszprém, Pärnu and Siófok, Tallinn-Nõmme and Szombathely, Rakvere and Szolnok and Kose and Ócsa. Since 2015, Kõpu and Iszkaszentgyörgy are twin cities.

As of April 2024, according to the Estonian Population Register, 87 Estonian citizens live in Hungary.