Hungary Calls Croatia Unreliable for Oil Transit
- The European Commission proposed Hungary and Slovakia use Croatia's JANAF pipeline for non-Russian oil.
- Slovakia and Hungary rebuffed the suggestion, stating Croatia is unreliable for oil transit.
- Hungary's decision highlights concerns over diversification of oil imports and reliance on Russian oil.
Budapest – The European Commission's recent proposal for Hungary and Slovakia to utilize the JANAF pipeline in Croatia for non-Russian oil supplies has been met with a veto from Hungary. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó criticized Croatia as "not a reliable country for transit," a statement that has sparked significant backlash from the Croatian government. Croatia's Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman condemned the remarks as politically offensive, highlighting the strained relations between the two nations. In response to Hungary's concerns, Slovakia, which already receives oil through the JANAF pipeline, has accepted an offer from Croatia to secure oil supplies. However, Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár expressed uncertainty regarding the specifics of the offer, including costs and volumes, indicating that further clarity is needed. This situation arises amid ongoing disruptions in oil supplies from Russia, particularly following Ukraine's ban on Lukoil's use of the Druzhba pipeline. Despite the tensions, a one-year contract was signed in May 2023 between Croatia's JANAF and Hungary's MOL for the transport and storage of 2.9 million tonnes of oil through the Adriatic pipeline. The European Commission continues to monitor the situation, asserting that the current disruptions have not yet affected overall oil supply volumes to Hungary and Slovakia. As the geopolitical landscape evolves, the reliability of oil transit routes remains a critical concern for Central European nations, with both Hungary and Slovakia navigating complex negotiations amid rising tensions and supply uncertainties.