The conflict between Hungary and the European Commission over the latter’s inaction against an Ukrainian decision to abruptly halt Russian oil transits via the Druzhba pipeline on July 17 goes into a new round, with Commission “advice” that the Hungarians forget about the Russian oil and take other oil from a Croatian pipeline.
This is not acceptable for Hungary, as Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on social media. Croatia “is not a reliable transit country,” Szijjarto said. “It is unreliable because, with the start of the war, the fee for oil transit has been increased five-fold compared to the average market figures.”
Apart from this, no appropriate investment has been made in increasing the oil supply route’s capacity, and its declared maximum capacity, which the Commission has claimed, has not been demonstrated, he said.
Hungary insists that imports of Russian oil, to which Hungary is authorized to under a special agreement with the Commission, be resumed. Oil from Russia accounts for 40-45% of Hungary’s needs.
