Slovakia and Hungary called on Brussels on Monday for more flexibility in the process of phasing out Russian gases, arguing that the lack of sea access and dependence on existing supply routes make diversification more difficult and costly, writes Euronews.
Bratislava has recalled that historically, it was a gateway for Russian oil and gas, but now it risks becoming, alongside Hungary, the end of the line, as Russian energy supplies to Central Europe are set to cease in 2027, according to the EU’s plan to give up imports from Russia.
“We would like to discuss with the European Commission how the next EU funding period and the availability of European funds can meet our needs, especially in terms of expanding the oil and gas infrastructure in the Visegrad Group region“, said Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Denisa Saková, on the sidelines of a press conference in Bratislava, which was also attended by the European Commissioner for Energy, Dan Jørgensen.
Central European ministers want Brussels to acknowledge their specific situation and take into account regional needs when allocating European funds for new oil and gas infrastructure, and when preparing the next EU budgetary exercise, another topic that divided member states at the recent European Council summit.
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