Croatia Dismissed as Reliable Oil Transit Country by Minister
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has recently criticized Croatia, stating that it is not a reliable country for oil transit. In a Facebook post, Szijjártó expressed his concerns about Ukraine’s decision to halt the transit of crude oil needed for the security of oil supply in Hungary and Slovakia.
Szijjártó revealed that the European Commission’s executive vice-president, Valdis Dombrovskis, suggested in a letter that Ukraine was not posing a threat to oil supplies for Hungary and Slovakia and mentioned an alternative pipeline through Croatia. Szijjártó vehemently disagreed with this assessment, calling it “outrageous” and highlighting the potential risks of relying on Ukraine as a transit country.
The Hungarian Foreign Minister pointed out that Croatia had not made the necessary developments to become a reliable transit country. He criticized Croatia for increasing transit fees fivefold since the onset of the war, preventing long-term delivery contracts for Hungarian oil and gas company MOL, and failing to invest in increasing pipeline capacities. Szijjártó emphasized that Croatia’s lack of reliability could leave Hungary and Slovakia vulnerable in the event of a disruption in oil deliveries from the east.
Szijjártó’s remarks underscore the importance of secure and dependable oil transit routes for Hungary and Slovakia’s energy security. The ongoing tensions in the region highlight the need for strategic planning and cooperation among European countries to ensure a stable energy supply for all.
