The European Commission assured this Friday, following investigations carried out in the sector, that there are no blockages in the supply of crude oil from Russia to Hungary and Slovakia via the pipeline passing through Ukraine, following accusations by Hungary.
“We have investigated the impact of Ukrainian sanctions on Russian energy supplier Lukoil and gathered information from all parties – Slovakia, Hungary, as well as Ukraine and Croatia – to get a full and accurate picture of the situation and, to be clear, crude oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline continue and there is currently no issue with the security of supply,” said European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis.
In a statement released by his department, the head of commerce emphasized that, as confirmed by Ukrainian authorities, “the ongoing transit of crude oil from Russia to Hungary and Slovakia has not been affected, since Lukoil does not own this oil.”
The clarification came after the Hungarian government in late July accused the European Commission of orchestrating a halt to Russian oil supplies to the bloc via Ukraine, warning the dispute could lead to an energy crisis.
“The European Commission has immediately paid the closest attention to the concerns expressed by Hungary and Slovakia since they were made in July and categorically refutes these statements,” Valdis Dombrovskis now emphasizes.
However, the official adds that the institution will closely monitor the situation and actively work with member states that are “interested in alternative solutions, including through the Adriatic Yanaf pipeline,” which runs through Croatia, Serbia and Hungary with branches to Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
“Overall, we renew our calls on EU Member States to accelerate efforts to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels,” concludes Valdis Dombrovskis.
Budapest and Bratislava demand that the Brussels leadership take immediate measures to allow the transit of Lukoil oil to both countries.
In June, the Kiev government imposed sanctions on Lukoil, the largest non-state oil company, which prevent the transit of oil through the Druzhba pipeline from Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia.
Hungary gets most of its oil from Russia, with about half coming from Lukoil.
The decision prompted strong protests from Slovak and Hungarian officials, who argued that the blockade could jeopardize their energy security. Both countries threatened legal action against Kyiv if Lukoil was not allowed to resume supplies.
Hungary’s nationalist-conservative government led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban is considered the Russian regime’s closest partner in the EU and has refused to supply weapons to Kyiv since Russia’s large-scale military invasion in February 2022.
The EU imposed sanctions on Russian oil imports into the bloc after the military invasion, but granted exemptions to Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic until they found new sources of imports.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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