MAE responds to Hungarian declarations on Romanian gas

Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) has reacted today to Hungarian declarations that demand international pressure on Romania because Bucharest has not respected its commitments in terms of regional energy cooperation.

Spreading inaccurate information about Romania is in contradiction with the spirit of the Romanian-Hungarian Strategic Partnership and with the bilateral relations of cooperation, mutual respect and mutual trust between two EU and NATO Member States – states a MAE press release.

Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has required clarifications on this situation, through the Hungarian Embassy in Bucharest.

This week, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Washington that supplying energy in Central Europe is a security issue and that international pressure on Romania is necessary for Bucharest to start natural gas extraction in the Black Sea in 2022.

Hungary accused Romania of not investing in the regional gas transportation network, and of not doing the necessary works to interconnect the gas pipelines with the neighboring countries.

In reply, the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest says that the Hungarian side knows very well the recent developments regarding the substantial investments made in Romania for the provision of the regional gas transport infrastructure, "the exemplary way Romanian authorities cooperate with the companies interested in capitalizing energy resources in the Black Sea and the efforts Romania makes to ensure, at regional level, diversification of natural gas supply sources".

Earlier this month, Transgaz National Gas Transporter initiated the construction of the BRUA pipeline, a project of national interest, linking the gas transport networks from Bulgaria and Austria through Romania and Hungary - a project supported by the European Commission.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei