FM: Phasing out EU's imports of Russian gas and oil by end of 2027 would ruin Hungary
Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, warned that a plan drafted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would put an end to Hungary's energy security.
Minister Szijjártó told the Financial Times' Energy Transition Summit in Athens that the RePowerEU roadmap for phasing out the European Union's imports of Russian gas and oil by the end of 2027 would 'ruin' Hungary, as the country couldn't manage its energy supply without deliveries from Russia.
The foreign minister warned that, if the plan was implemented, the cost of Hungary's energy supply would climb by an annual EUR 2bn, causing household utility bills to double or triple.
Minister Szijjártó said Hungary's energy supply was determined solely by geography and infrastructure, not by politics or ideology. He added that Russia had been the most dependable source of energy for Hungary so far.
'That is not a political declaration. That is not for ideological reasons. Rather, it is based on facts and our experience,' he said.
Minister Szijjártó noted that Hungary, a landlocked country, had spent several hundred million euros on interconnectors with the energy networks of its neighbours in recent years. He also called out the EC for failing to provide financial support for the expansion of the gas network in Southeast Europe to support diversification.
He said the plan to phase out Russian hydrocarbon imports would violate Hungary's sovereignty, as decisions on the national energy mix were in the scope of power of member states, according to the EU treaties. Instead of supporting diversification, the plan would lead to strong dependency, he added.
Minister Szijjártó said the government would fight against the plan in order to preserve Hungary's energy security. 'We're not alone in the matter, as Slovakia is in a similar situation and depends on the same delivery routes,' he added.
He welcomed the exclusion of Russian nuclear fuel from the plan, but suggested a close cooperation between the nuclear energy industries of Western Europe and Russia was the reason for the decision. 'That isn't a problem, but a double standard shouldn't be applied,' he added.
Minister Szijjártó said energy diversification was important for Hungary's government, but only in the sense of tapping new sources, not exchanging one source of supply for another.
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