Hungary and Estonia, bilateral relations

Hungary recognised the Republic of Estonia on 24 February 1921, opened its embassy in Tallinn in 1923 and accredited Mihály Jungerth-Arnóth as its first envoy. From 1923 to 1928 the Hungarian envoy resided in Tallinn, but in 1928 the legation was moved to Helsinki and the bilateral affairs were managed from there until the occupation of Estonia in 1940. Estonia posted a resident diplomat to Hungary in 1935, later the country was represented by its envoy in Berlin, then in Helsinki and finally in Rome.

Diplomatic relations between Estonia and Hungary were restored on 2 September 1991 during the visit of the Estonian Foreign Minister, Lennart Meri to Budapest.

Following the restoration of the independence of Estonia, Hungary first accredited its ambassadors in Finland to Tallinn beginning with 1991. In 1999 the Hungarian embassy was officially opened in Tallinn and the Hungarian ambassadors have been residing in Estonia since then. Mr. István Mohács handed over his credentials to President Mr. Arnold Rüütel on the 22nd of September, 2005.

Hungary has had two honorary consuls in Estonia since 1994: Mall Hellam in Tallinn and Ago Künnap in Tartu.

Hungary established a cultural center in Tallinn in 1992 which was upgraded to higher, independent institutional level and named Hungarian Institute in 2001.

The present cooperation between Hungary and Estonia is closer than ever and is strengthened also by the two countries' membership in the European Union and NATO. Beside the frequent meetings and consultations in the framework of the Euro-Atlantic integration, the common Finno-Ugric origin of the two peoples adds an emotional content to the bilateral relations. Official ties are supported by a rich network of civic contacts: the Hungarian-Estonian Friendship Associations are active in both countries; the exchange of students, scholars and artists is going on a regular basis. The sister-city relationship is flourishing between Veszprém – Tartu, Siófok - Pärnu, and Szombathely - Nõmme.

High-level contacts are quite frequent between the representatives of the two countries. Parliaments of both states have founded Hungarian-Estonian friendship groups, which cooperate closely at various international forums.

Important official visits:

Heads of State:

1996 May             Árpád Göncz

1997 May             Lennart Meri

2000 December   Ferenc Mádl

2002 September  Arnold Rüütel

2004 August         Ferenc Mádl

2006 March          László Sólyom

2006 October       Toomas Hendrik Ilves

Heads of Governments:

1993 January       Mart Laar

2000 May             Viktor Orbán

Speakers of Parliaments:

1994 April            Ülo Nugis

2003 June            Katalin Szili

Ministers of Foreign Affairs:

1992 August         Géza Jeszenszky

1993 April            Trivimi Velliste

2002 March          János Martonyi

The President of the Supreme Court

2006 August         Zoltán Lomnici

Bilateral agreements:

The first agreement between the two countries - about commerce and maritime transportation - was signed on 29 April 1929. Currently the bilateral treaties cover all fields of political, economic and cultural life, including tourism, defence and science. The most important agreements are:

• Protocol on the reestablisment of of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Hungary and the Republic of Estonia. (valid from September 2, 1991)
• The agreement on the bases for friendship and co-operation (valid fromApril 22, 1994)
• The agreement on abolishment of visa requirements (valid from August 20, 1993)
• The agreement on arranging international highway transportation of people and goods (valid from October 7, 1993)
• The agreement on co-operation in culture and education (valid from July 19, 1994)
• The co-operation agreement on the fight against terrorism, illegal trafficking with drugs and organised crime (valid from December 31, 1997)
• Agreement on the readmission of persons and its implementation protocol (valid from December 7, 2002)
• Agreement on the avoidance of double taxation of income and capital and on the prevention of tax evasion (valid from July 05, 2004).