Austria’s right-wing opposition Freedom Party (FPÖ) intensified its calls for closer cooperation with Hungary during a meeting in Vienna on Thursday, December 4th, as senior party figures stepped up criticism of the European Union’s migration and energy policies.
Christian Hafenecker, the FPÖ’s General Secretary and chair of the Austrian–Hungarian parliamentary friendship group, met Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó for what he described as an “intensive working discussion.”
Hafenecker argued that sovereign states must coordinate more closely “in challenging times,” insisting Austria and Hungary should “pull together” to counter what he called growing EU centralisation. He directed sharp criticism at Brussels’ asylum plans, condemning mandatory redistribution of migrants and proposed financial penalties for non-compliance.
Austria remained heavily burdened by illegal migration, Hafenecker said, stating that the FPÖ advocated “returns instead of redistribution,” asylum processing outside the EU, and reinforced internal border controls.Hungary, he added, had “proven that effective border protection works.”
Energy security also featured prominently. Hafenecker said Europe could not afford to turn energy supply into a “political experiment” amid geopolitical uncertainty. While Austrian industry struggled with prices still above pre-crisis levels, Hungary had stabilised costs through long-term agreements, he noted, calling for tighter bilateral coordination and infrastructure links.
FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl echoed these positions in a Facebook post, urging an end to what he described as deep EU intrusions into national security and asylum policy.
Szijjártó later posted on X that the FPÖ’s election victory had marked a “patriotic shift” in Austria, accusing liberal parties of attempting to block the FPÖ from entering government. The Hungarian government, he said, “stands with the FPÖ,” insisting political manoeuvring could not override voters’ demands.
