Brussels had enough: EC calls on Hungary to stop relying on Putin
Seems like Brussels has had enough. Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy Policy, has called on Hungary to do its utmost to reduce its dependence on Russian energy and its “vulnerability to Kremlin influence”.
As the Brussels-based newspaper Politico recalls, in October, Russia’s Gazprom indicated that it would increase gas supplies to Hungary for the winter period, following the meeting between Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.
“Even Hungary knows that by continuing this activity, they grant Russia the right to manipulate their market,” Simson said. She added that “I know one political leader in Europe who is shaking hands with this war criminal,” referring to their meeting and handshake in Beijing.
European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson gives a press conference on the State of the Energy Union Report in Brussels, Belgium, 24 October 2023. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET
The EU Commissioner pointed out that the EU as a whole has significantly reduced its dependence on Russian gas. Even vulnerable members such as Slovakia and Bulgaria plan to phase out energy imports from Russia by 2027.
Simson also expressed regret that Hungary is continuing with the Paks II project. She said it “depends on Russia’s support and nuclear fuel”. Find our latest report on the developments of the Paks project HERE.
In September 2021, Hungarian MVM signed two long-term contracts with Gazprom to supply a total of 4.5 billion cubic metres of gas per year through pipelines running through Serbia and Austria, Index informs.
Under constant pressure?
Photo: FB/Péter Szijjártó
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in October that Hungary is under constant pressure from the European Union to reduce its dependence on Russian energy. He said that one of the main obstacles to diversification is precisely the policy in Brussels.
“Where a country buys its energy from is not a political statement. You cannot heat houses and apartments with political statements, you cannot run the economy with political statements”, Index quotes the minister as saying.
“As long as natural gas cannot be transported in a backpack or by plane, it has to be bought from where the infrastructure is,” he said.
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11 Comments
My god the lies that spread in the west. 😂
Putin is not a war criminal, the opposite is true.
He has done everything in his power to avoid conflict with the west, but no, the greedy western mafia had to tale control over russias natural resources again, like they did in the last century.
But now Russia was prepared and other countries were ready to back him.
Sadly most of the sheep in europe believe this nonsens about Putin being the aggressor.
I have watched ukrainian innocent men go into the meat grinder by the hundreds of thousands, with all of Europe cheering on (except Orbán), KNOWING FROM THE START that there is no chanse of Russia loosing this war.
But the MASSIVE propaganda in the western news has been crazy. Every day a new lie, Putin is sick, Putin is mentally crazy, Putin is dead, Putins closest are about to beat him, Russia is on the brink of collapse etc. etc.
Do you people still trust this shit reporting?
Russia isn’t collapsing, Putin is alive and well. Ukraine has lost.
What happened?
MAYBE YOU WERE LIED TO ALL ALONG!???
How is it that Hungary is the only country in the EU to claim that it is forced to buy Russian gas due to “infrastructure”? Everyone else can reduce dependency on Russian energy but Hungary instead chooses to sign new long term contracts with the barbarians. These countries have interconnecting pipelines. Hungary is buying Russian gas by choice and is funding Russia’s barbaric war in Ukraine.
To warm under the blankets to get out of bed, with Russia.
The European Union know the depth and “other” arrangements Victor Orban has “signed off” on with Russia.
Orban will like the “junk yard dog” reactionary individual he is bite back – shooting from the hip, all guns blazing at the European Union.
Maybe they are giving him further rope to possible hang him-self and Hungary, in being or remaining a Member of the European Union ?
It’s another test for the Orban Government, that could be another dagger in Hungary’s side.
And is even more interesting. We objectively overpay for our gas. Great arrangement by our Politicians. Be dependent AND pay more. Then again – we somehow always do end up paying just a little bit more in Hungary, don’t we?
If you are going to subscribe to “Sven Svensson’s” view of reality I suggest a daily viewing of RT television combined with Pravda news. If you can’t think for yourself you will become a fellow Russophile. Russia woke up in 1990 to get rid of the oppressive regime but some people are just too nostalgic for terror, gulags and living as slaves. The EU and NATO are the foundation of freedom and security for Europeans and the US has provided huge support for more than 70 years to keep the Russian barbarians out. Putin just hates that Europeans are so much more successful than his people which visibly undermines the moral legitimacy of his own regime. Russia can’t succeed so they only thing it can do is attack others to bring them down to their low level.
Pray tell people, where and how would you supply energy needed for the people of Hungary. Trading with Russia does not mean total support of all their actions. Not supporting the war in Ukraine does not mean that Hungarians want Ukrainians to die and allows and allowed Ukrainian refugee in the country. Some of these refugees needed transport others were allowed to settle in Hungary.
Time to get “real”. Hungary needs energy. Russia is a reliable supplier. Would be surprised if Slovakia and Belgium will phase out Russian energy. To date, many more countries, including Germany, use Russian energy.
Larry, if you still believe the lies about Russia I can’t help you.
@mariavontheresa – so much for the “Sovereignty!” our Politicians keep on banging on about. Long term agreements that dictate dependency on non-EU, state controlled parties, how is that Sovereign (other than deciding we will be – uh – dependent on Foreigners). I am sure I am missing something here – always happy to learn, though.
Hence the common EU goal to actively reduce the dependence on Russian oil and gas. It is a national security matter.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=COM:2023:650:FIN
Facts and data – not conjecture.
Comrade Sven Svensson,
We specifically told you to NOT use the word war. Russia is not at war. Only the lying western media says that there is a war. It is just a special military operation.
You have broken the law of dear Motherland. Using the word war is illegal. Report to your senior officer. For a corrective measure you will be sent to the frontline of Special military operation so that you will understand that there is no war. Don’t worry though, like you said – Ukraine lost so you are safe there.
Dear Norbert, Hungary increased the importance of sovereignty when Hungary decided to ensure energy supply instead of cutting its throat by agreeing to stop a reliable Russian supply of energy.
You have not answered the question, from where or how Hungary can supply its citizens with the needed energy? Many seniors died in Germany last year due to regulations of keeping the thermostat too low. Now, are you and the rest of EU figured out that a good way of getting rid of Hungarians by forcing the government deprive its people from energy needed to cook and heat the homes.
FSB, you are a Mediot. Google it.