During the visit, the minister agreed with his Hungarian counterpart to expand cooperation in the fields of solar energy and natural gas, as well as to integrate Israeli technologies into Hungary’s electric vehicle battery sector and cyber industry. The minister also met with senior executives from Hungary’s leading energy companies and with the Jewish communities in Budapest.
Minister of Energy and Cabinet Member Eli Cohen said: “Hungary is one of Israel’s closest friends in Europe, and during my visit I expressed my appreciation to the Hungarian Minister of Energy for standing with us during the war and for the efforts to block anti Israeli decisions in international institutions. We are grateful, and those who stand with the people of Israel will find us working to strengthen our ties and assist them with world leading Israeli technologies. The agreement I signed with my Hungarian counterpart will strengthen relations between our countries and will open the European market to Israeli companies and technologies, thereby enhancing Israel’s standing on the continent.”
During the visit, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Eli Cohen met with his Hungarian counterpart Csaba Lantos with the aim of strengthening the energy partnership between the two countries. At the center of the visit was the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding that will define a framework for broad cooperation in areas such as natural gas, electricity, renewable energy, hydrogen, energy efficiency, storage technologies, digitization, and cyber protection.
The agreement will include the establishment of a joint working group to advance initiatives, projects, and knowledge sharing. The ministers will also discuss opportunities for cooperation in developing solar facilities, integrating Israeli companies into Hungarian government support programs, developing cyber defenses for critical infrastructure based on Israeli models, and adopting Israeli technologies in the field of electric vehicle batteries. Preparations will also be made for the Joint Economic Committee which will convene in early 2026.
During the visit, meetings were held with the leadership of Hungary’s two major energy companies, MVM and MOL, with the aim of advancing joint projects in natural gas storage, investment, and research and development in renewable energy. Natural gas storage is a strategic priority for Israel, particularly in light of its efforts to enhance energy security and maximize the use of its natural gas resources. Collaboration with countries that have operational experience in this field can contribute to the development of efficient storage solutions that will support the continued expansion of Israel’s natural gas infrastructure, including for emergency use.
This visit by the minister and ministry officials continues a clear trend of strengthening energy relations between Israel and Hungary in recent years. Hungary sees Israel as a strategic partner for achieving energy security, diversifying supply sources, and adopting advanced technologies. Israel, for its part, is reinforcing its position as an important player in the European arena through its energy sector, natural gas industry, and technological innovation.
Cooperation between the countries is based on strong ties, mutual commitment, and a shared understanding of global energy challenges. The agreement is expected to promote joint projects and expand the involvement of Israeli companies in the European energy market. Cyber, solar energy, energy storage, and green hydrogen are also expected to be key areas of interest for both sides.
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