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FM Szijjártó happy: Paks NPP’s Russian upgrade to be speeded up
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Hungarian interests have been protected in the face of the European Union’s latest sanctions package against Russia, as Hungary’s nuclear plant in Paks has received full exemption from the measures, allowing works on its expansion to speed up, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in Luxembourg on Monday.
Paks exempt from EU sanctions
Adoption of the 14th package was “the continuation of an utterly failed strategy”, Szijjártó said during a break of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
Hungary had engaged in sharp debates during the preparation period “to protect ourselves, our national interests and energy security”, Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement.
“We’ve reached the objective of having it stated in this directive that the construction of the new Paks nuclear power plant and all its processes, stages and elements are completely exempted from sanctioning measures,” he said.
“This means that the European companies participating in the investment — and we have many French, German and Austrian companies — will not have to apply for permits from the authorities of member states.”
Hungarian presidency will focus on enlargement
“This general exemption has created a situation regarding the Paks investment as if there were no war in Ukraine, and the war did not entail sanctions or economic restrictions,” he said.
Meanwhile, Szijjártó said the upcoming Hungarian presidency will focus on speeding up the EU’s enlargement process in the Western Balkans.
