Hungary and Croatia have agreed to launch a joint natural gas exploration and production project, Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán and Minister for Economic and Energy Affairs István Kapitány announced following talks in Zagreb.
The ministers held discussions with Croatian Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar and Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman during Orbán’s first official visit to the Croatian capital. Energy cooperation was at the centre of the talks, while the two sides also discussed transport links and wider bilateral relations.
Cross-border gas field to be developed
The two countries agreed to launch the Zaláta–Dravica joint natural gas exploration and production project. According to Kapitány, the project concerns a cross-border gas field located roughly half in Hungary and half in Croatia. He described it as an example of how the two countries intend to strengthen their energy and economic cooperation.
Orbán called the project the potential “first success story” of a new chapter in Hungarian-Croatian energy cooperation. The ministers also discussed expanding the capacity of the natural gas connection between the two countries, which they consider a shared strategic goal.
Oil supplies and the Adriatic pipeline
Hungary also wants to strengthen reliable and predictable oil supply cooperation with Croatia. Orbán and Kapitány said they support continued talks between Hungarian energy company MOL Group and Croatian pipeline operator JANAF over the Adria oil pipeline, which connects the Croatian coast with Central European markets.
Kapitány said closer coordination between refineries in Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia and Serbia would also be important for the security of the region’s energy supply.
The Hungarian government has been seeking to diversify and strengthen energy connections in the region, particularly amid continuing concerns over energy security and supply routes.
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Hungary is a major investor in Croatia
Orbán said Croatia is Hungary’s second-largest foreign investment market, with Hungarian companies having invested EUR 5.4 billion in the neighbouring country so far. She stressed that Hungary wants Croatia to remain a predictable investment destination and said the two countries intend to further develop transport and energy links.
One planned project is a new bridge over the Mura River between Murakeresztúr in Hungary and Kotoriba in Croatia. The ministers also discussed broader transport connections between the two countries.
The talks took place around the first anniversary of the completion of the motorway connection between Budapest and Osijek.
Orbán also said Hungary and Croatia share an interest in benefiting from the European Union’s 2028–2034 financial framework, while cooperation on minority affairs was described as exemplary by the Hungarian side.
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