Hungary Opposes Nord Stream II, Speaks of Negative Impact on Eastern Europe
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Thursday that EU's soft stance on the Nord Stream II project could have to do with the influence of Northern European countries, referring to the power imbalances in the block as a possible reason for the failure of the South Stream project.
“We have the impression that maybe due to the fact that the Balkan countries are not as big and influential as EU members, our project may be cancelled, and the other project is criticised less because it involves major players,” Szijjarto said, referring to the South Stream and the North Stream, the 55 bcm project connecting Russia with Germany.
Szijjarto said that the Nord Stream II would have a negative impact on Eastern European countries, Hungary and Ukraine included.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian and German leaders are preparing to meet in Berlin on Friday.
‘The forum of such scale will be held for the first time in the history of Ukrainian-German relations. It is expected that the event will be attended by Prime Minister of Ukraine and Chancellor of Germany’ reads a note released on Thursday.
According to Interfax, transit of Russian natural gas via Ukraine in the first nine months of the year are on 2014 levels.
On the other hand, as reported by several Ukrainian newspapers, Energy and Coal Industry Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Demchyshyn said that Gazprom supplies will not exceed 50% of total imports.
HUNGARY AND RUSSIA
Hungary is trying to maintain good ties with Russia and protect its gas assets, while its companies keep investing in the downstream segment.
On Wednesday, Hungary’s MOL signed an agreement with Italy’s Eni for the acquisition of the entire share capital of Eni Hungaria, a company managing 183 Agip branded service stations in Hungary.
‘By increasing the retail presence within the supply radius of its refineries, the deal significantly contributes to MOL Group’s strategy of further downstream integration’ the company wrote on its website.
A few hours later, the Hungarian government said it had a deep change of views with the Russian government.
‘There is a need for an agreement between the transatlantic community and Russia within the shortest possible time’ reads a note on the website page of Szijjarto published on Wednesday, referring to a two-hour conversation between him and Russia's Minister Sergey Lavrov.
OTHER EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES SAY THE SAME
Despite the different relation with Russia - Budapest has never been such a strong opposer of Moscow as some of its neighbours - Hungary is basically repeating what other Eastern European countries said over the last months.
Slovakia’s Robert Fico and Ukraine's Arseniy Yatsenyuk stated that Nord Stream II project is a sellout, while Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka argued that the project would destabilise Ukraine.
Sergio Matalucci