Merely three days after the Hungarian parliamentary elections, the European Commission is expected to submit a proposal for a definitive ban on Russian oil imports. The timing is no coincidence, given the election campaign period. Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, responded to the news from Washington at the request of Index.
The European Commission is expected to submit a proposal for a permanent ban on Russian oil imports on April 15. The plan was presented to Reuters directly by EU officials.
The diplomats added that the timing was not accidental, as they did not want the ban on Russian oil imports to become a major issue in the Hungarian election campaign.
The article also mentions the very important fact that Hungary and Slovakia import crude oil from Russia and therefore oppose any kind of ban.
Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, responded to the news from Washington at the request of Index:
‘This is yet another reason why we need a sovereign government that is capable of saying no to Brussels. Cheap Russian energy sources are the basis for reducing utility costs.
If the EU were to ban Russian oil imports, Hungarian families’ utility costs would triple and gasoline would rise to 1,000 forints per liter (around 2.65 euros).
We must say no to this proposal from Brussels! And only we can say no. A party controlled by Brussels (the main opposition party, TISZA — editor’s note) will obviously not say no, and will not prevent the reduction in utility costs from being scrapped,” the minister concluded.
Fact
Crude oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia have been suspended since January 27 because a station was hit. The Hungarian government considers this a political decision because there are no technical obstacles to restarting the pipeline. It is becoming very obvious that the dispute surrounding the Druzhba pipeline is no longer just an energy issue – it has become a foreign policy game and a domestic political battleground.
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Energy Security through Diversification without Compromise Is the Focus of Talks in Washington
“Hungary is interested in expanding its nuclear capacity, and the Americans are interested in participating in this development,” said Péter Szijjártó.Continue reading
Via Index, Reuters; Featured photo: European Parliament/Laurie DIEFFEMBACQ
The post EU’s Russian Oil Ban: A Strategic Move Against Hungary appeared first on Hungary Today.
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