On 19 November, Jonathan Lacôte, France’s Ambassador accredited to Hungary, and Matthieu Berton, Director of the French Institute and Cultural Counsellor, visited the Otto von Habsburg Foundation. The head of mission, who arrived here in August 2024, speaks excellent Hungarian and knows the country well, and expressed particular interest in the life and heritage of our namesake. He underscored that Otto von Habsburg was not only the heir to the Austro–Hungarian Monarchy, but also a descendant of the Dukes of Lorraine. During the discussion, we recalled that next year marks the 75th anniversary of the Nancy wedding of the former Crown Prince and Princess Regina of Saxe-Meiningen, an event organised with the involvement of Robert Schuman, former French Foreign Minister and “Father of Europe”.
The Ambassador and the Cultural Counsellor were impressed by the library preserved by our Foundation, including the volume autographed by Charles de Gaulle, as well as the numerous France-related photographs and archival documents held in our collections. Jonathan Lacôte noted that, in his view, the Habsburg name is now held in higher regard in France, even though the dynasty had long been considered an adversary. He added that our Foundation’s Board member, Georg von Habsburg – serving as Hungary’s Ambassador to Paris until the summer of 2025 – has contributed significantly to French–Hungarian relations, thereby further strengthening his family’s reputation in France.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss possible joint programmes. Among the ideas raised was the organisation of a conference focusing on the European Political Community and the EU’s enlargement policy. Such an event, by recalling the historical roots and Otto von Habsburg’s European thought, could enrich ongoing discussions on the subject with valuable perspectives.
Ambassador Jonathan Lacôte and Director Matthieu Berton indicated that they will continue to follow our work with great interest and remain open to future cooperation and shared initiatives.
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