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The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Vienna |
Contact
Address: Penzinger Straße 11-13, 1140 Vienna, Austria
Tel.: +43 1 899 58 111
E-mail: vienna@embassy.mzv.cz
The Ambassador
Edit Szilágyiné Bátorfi
Ambassador Edit Szilágyiné Bátorfi, born on October 15, 1964, is a seasoned diplomat with a comprehensive educational background and extensive professional experience. Following the completion of her Economist degree at the University of Economics in Prague in 1987, she furthered her studies in EU financial studies at the Institute for Public Administration in Budapest, as well as advanced public administration studies in the same city.
Ambassador Szilágyiné Bátorfi's career spans various significant roles within Hungarian diplomacy and international relations. Most recently, in 2022, she assumed the position of Head of Department for Western and Southern Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Budapest, focusing on strategic relations in these regions. Prior to this, she served as Head of the Department for Northern Europe in 2021, contributing to Hungary's diplomatic initiatives in Northern European countries.
Her leadership extends to her tenure as Executive Director of the International Visegrad Fund in Bratislava in 2020, where she played a key role in promoting cooperation among the Visegrad Group countries.
Ambassador Szilágyiné Bátorfi's ambassadorial postings include her role as Ambassador of Hungary to the Republic of Slovenia in Ljubljana starting from 2015. Earlier in her career, she served as Deputy Head of the Department for Central Europe and National Coordinator for V4 and CEI at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Budapest in 2010. Her expertise in international economic relations was honed during her time as Head of the Department for International Economic Relations at the Ministry of Economy and Transport in Budapest in 2006.
She began her diplomatic career in 1987 with the Ministry of Foreign Trade in Budapest, initially joining the Department of Central European Countries. Over the years, Ambassador Szilágyiné Bátorfi has held various roles including First Secretary at the Embassy of Hungary in Berlin in 2001, Senior Counsellor at the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Budapest focusing on Germany and Austria in 1995, and Commercial Secretary at the Embassy of Hungary in Prague in 1990.
Ambassador Edit Szilágyiné Bátorfi's robust educational background, coupled with her extensive professional experience and leadership in diplomacy, underscores her dedication to advancing Hungary's foreign policy objectives and fostering international cooperation.
History
Austria and the Czech Republic share one of the closest historical relationships in Central Europe due to their common history within the Habsburg Empire and Austro-Hungarian Monarchy until 1918. Diplomatic relations between Austria and Czechoslovakia were established after the creation of Czechoslovakia in 1918, although relations were initially complicated by disputes over borders, minorities, and political differences. After the Second World War and the Cold War period, relations improved significantly following the democratic transition of 1989.
The Czech Republic and Austria restored modern diplomatic relations after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993. Austria maintains an embassy in Prague, while the Czech Republic has a long-established embassy in Vienna. Relations are now considered excellent and particularly close, supported by geographical proximity, EU membership, and extensive economic ties.
Cooperation is especially strong in trade, energy, transport, environmental policy, tourism, and regional development. The two countries cooperate closely within the EU and Central European frameworks. Cultural relations remain significant due to historical links between Vienna and Czech lands, including language, architecture, music, and shared heritage.
