Szijjarto in talks with EC Vice-President on situation after oil ban

Szijjarto said on Facebook that “it became clear during the talks that we see the nature and consequences of the Ukrainian decision differently.”

Hungary’s stance is clear, Szijjarto said: Hungary thinks that the EC should “not allow a membership candidate to play games with two member states and to put the safety of their energy supply at risk.”

The decision is endangering one third of Hungary’s oil imports fom the east. In Slovakia’s case, that proportions is almost 45 percent, Szijjarto said.

“We also see the step as a breach of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement,” he said.

Szijjarto also briefed Dombrovskis on Hungary’s stance that Croatia was not a reliable transit country, as it steeply raised transit fees after the war started. Croatia had also failed to agree to Hungary securing capacities for the long term, and the actual capacity of its pipeline remained unclear, he said.

Therefore, Ukraine’s decision to curb transit may make Hungary and Slovakia “vulnerable to various business and political interests”, he said. “We expect the EC to stand up for the interests of Hungary and Slovakia,” he said.

“We have sent the Commission the detailed information requested, and agreed with the Vice-President to remain in constant contact to facilitate a speedy and satisfactory solution,” he said.