Hungary threatens new veto

Hungary has threatened Bulgaria that it will veto its membership in Schengen.

BB.LV tells, that such a statement was made by the head of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peter Szijjártó, in response to an increase in the tariff for the transit of Russian gas through Bulgarian territory. The diplomat stated this in an interview with Pannon RTV:

“If this measure continues and threatens the security of Hungary’s energy supply for a long time, then we will veto their membership in the Schengen area.”

How writes politico, Peter Szijjártó calls Bulgaria’s transit fee “completely contrary to European law.” Hungary accuses its neighbor of carrying out hostile actions by levying an additional tax on Russian gas transiting through its territory via the Turkish Stream pipeline. In October, Sofia introduced an additional tax of 20 levs (about 10 euros) per cubic meter of all Russian gas passing through its land.

Russia supplies Hungary with 4.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year under an agreement signed in 2021. Gas enters Hungary mainly through Bulgaria and Serbia.

According to the head of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, a decision on Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen may be made in the near future. Szijjártó noted that the Bulgarian side is thinking about repealing the law, which implies an increase in gas tariffs. He added that if the country’s authorities repeal the law, then Budapest will not veto it. In his opinion, Bulgaria’s actions are scandalous and hostile, they jeopardize the transit of natural gas to North Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary.

The European Commission, writes Politico, considered Bulgaria, along with Romania, ready to join the borderless Schengen area since 2011, but numerous vetoes from Austria and the Netherlands have so far blocked its accession. However, both countries have recently softened their stance, with Austria signaling that it is willing to remove barriers when it comes to air traffic.

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