Bulgarian Gas Transit Fee Raise a Threat to Our Energy Security

A week ago, without any prior warning, Bulgaria significantly increased its transit tariffs for Russian gas”, András Gyürk, Fidesz MEP, said. “Therefore, we have addressed questions to the European Commission requiring an immediate answer”, says the MEP’s statement.

On 13 October 2023, the Bulgarian Parliament adopted an unprecedented increase in transit tariffs for Russian natural gas in an unexpected legislative amendment. “This is clearly a hostile move against Hungary and Serbia, which could jeopardize energy supplies to both countries and destabilize energy markets. It is not only unacceptable, but also goes against EU law. We have therefore addressed questions to the European Commission that require an immediate answer,” the Fidesz politician said.

“On the one hand, we are waiting to see what concrete steps the Commission plans to take against the Bulgarian decision, which undermines European energy solidarity. We are also waiting for confirmation from Brussels that it continues to regard the drawing up of the national energy mix as the exclusive right of the Member States. The Bulgarian transit fee increase may also limit this”, the Hungarian MEP pointed out.

The security of energy supply and the ability to protect the population from high energy prices is a matter of sovereignty.

“We will not let the hostile Bulgarian move go unanswered. We will defend Hungary’s sovereignty, not only together with the Commission, but also against the Brussels bureaucrats”, András Gyürk said.

During his visit to Moscow on Friday last week, Péter Szijjártó sharply criticized Bulgaria for the then pending promulgation of a law that would make gas supplies to Hungary significantly more expensive, and according to our Foreign Minister, the possibility of a possible halt to gas supplies through Bulgaria cannot be ruled out. Two weeks ago, the Bulgarian parliament passed a bill at first reading that would impose an extra tax of €10.2 per megawatt-hour on Russian pipeline gas transiting Bulgaria to Serbia and Hungary, which would impose a substantial additional cost on the Hungarian economy.

According to the foreign minister, the bill was drafted under pressure from the US. It threatened to shut off the gas tap if the increased Russian transit fee was not paid. “This is clearly unacceptable.

For one EU member state to jeopardize the gas supply of another EU member state is quite simply against European solidarity, against European rules,”

said Péter Szijjártó. He added that the Hungarian government had contacted the political leaders of Serbia and Bulgaria on the matter.

The adoption of the draft law could be risky for Bulgaria, as Hungary could thwart the Balkan country’s main ambition, namely to join the Schengen area.

Featured Photo: Fidesz