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Brussels has advised Hungary and Slovakia to wean themselves off Russian oil and search different sources after they complained that Ukraine was blocking provides from Russia.
In a letter to Budapest and Bratislava seen by the Monetary Occasions, EU commerce commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis mentioned that “diversification away from Russian fossil fuels must be actively pursued”.
The Hungarian and Slovak governments had requested the fee to intervene of their dispute with Ukraine after Kyiv positioned sanctions on Russian vitality firm Lukoil.
Since they depend on Russian crude flowing by way of Ukraine by way of the Druzhba pipeline, which can also be utilized by Lukoil, Hungary and Slovakia mentioned the transfer threatened gasoline shortages.
However a fee spokesperson mentioned on Thursday the international locations had sufficient provides for the reason that general circulate had not diminished. “The pressing consultations” the 2 international locations demanded, underneath the EU’s commerce take care of Ukraine, weren’t wanted.
Hungary and Slovakia have been granted exemptions to an EU-wide ban on Russian oil imports following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 due to what they mentioned have been no accessible alternate options.
However Dombrovskis mentioned they may use an current pipeline bringing shipborne crude from Croatia.
“The fee’s present evaluation factors to an sufficient capability for Hungary and Slovakia by way of different pipelines such because the Janaf Adriatic pipeline.”
He added that at a gathering final week to debate the problem by representatives of all member states “a big quantity . . . questioned why Hungary and Slovakia had apparently not but explored alternate options to date”.
He mentioned that MOL, the Hungarian vitality firm, had “set out in formal letters that Lukoil was certainly not the proprietor of the oil transported by way of Ukraine for the MOL group”, which means that the provides coming by way of Druzhba weren’t affected by Kyiv’s sanctions.
Dombrovskis met Denys Shmyhal, the Ukrainian prime minister, in Brussels on Thursday and was advised sufficient oil was nonetheless flowing by way of Druzhba.
MOL has long-term contracts with Russian suppliers. Crude from Russia solely accounted for 3 per cent of demand within the bloc, the fee mentioned.
Hungarian international minister Péter Szijjártó this week accused the fee of “blackmail”, saying it persecuted the 2 international locations due to their opposition to arming Ukraine.
Szijjarto mentioned maybe it was “Brussels, not Kyiv, that invented the entire thing . . . that wished to blackmail two pro-peace international locations that reject arms transfers”.
Slovakia mentioned it could present extra info to the fee. “So long as the unblocking of oil provides is just not resolved in any manner, we nonetheless contemplate the state of affairs to be critical and threatening Slovakia’s vitality safety,” it added.
Relations between Hungary and Brussels have worsened prior to now month after Budapest took on the rotating presidency of the EU. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow allegedly to dealer peace in Ukraine, prompting outcry from fellow EU leaders who mentioned he didn’t signify them.
The fee is withholding billions in EU funds from Hungary due to considerations over the rule of regulation. Orbán is stopping different member states getting repaid by the EU for a few of the arms they’ve despatched to Ukraine.
Slovakia, which had a current change of presidency with Orbán ally Robert Fico changing into prime minister final 12 months, has threatened motion towards Ukraine.
Slovakia has not but commented whereas a spokesperson for the Hungarian authorities has not but responded to a request for remark.
