Budapest claims deal with Belgrade, Moscow on new pipeline for Russian oil
In a typically provocative social media post on Monday, Szijjártó blamed the EU's ongoing efforts to prohibit Russian fossil fuel imports for driving up energy prices to 'several times' those in other parts of the world.
'And this is no wonder, given Brussels is forcibly dismantling energy ties, banning Russian energy sources and blocking supply routes,' Szijjártó wrote on social media.
The move comes as the EU actively seeks to close off the remaining imports of Russian gas – flows that, although substantially reduced since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, still provide considerable revenue for the Kremlin's unprovoked war against its smaller neighbor.
Legislators are currently negotiating a proposal to ban imports of Russian gas completely by 2027. The European Parliament's lead negotiator is also pushing to extend the prohibition to pipeline oil, while also bringing forward the deadline.
The announcement from Budapest came after a video conference between Szijjártó, Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin, and Serbian Energy Minister Dubravka Đedović, the state-controlled news agency MTI reported.
The proposed pipeline could be operational as early as 2027, MTI reported, although few details were provided about the nature of the agreement with Moscow and Belgrade.
In a video clip included in the report, Szijjártó – whose government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has long made capping domestic energy bills a key element in election campaigning – reiterated his criticism of EU energy policy.
'We will not allow this,' Szijjártó said. 'We will build pipelines and open up new sources of supply, and so maintain Europe's lowest energy bills for the Hungarian people.'
According to recent statistics, Hungarian households have the lowest gas bills in the EU at €3.20 per 100 kWh compared to €16.71 in the Netherlands and €18.93 in Sweden.
Hungary and neighbouring Slovakia have repeatedly obstructed EU attempts to impose economic sanctions on Russian oil and gas, where unanimity among all 27 EU member states is required. However, the REPowerEU package currently under negotiation between governments and the European Parliament would require only a qualified majority to pass into law.
(aw)
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