Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said that the planned gas cooperation between Hungary and Romania will result in the country's reliance on Russian gas declining by 2022.
In a speech at the Hungarian-Serbian business forum on Friday, the prime minister added that the upcoming period will require the establishment of the capacities needed for the transportation of gas.
PM Orbán stressed that regional energy networks must become more closely interconnected, and this will enable the end of excessive reliance on Russian gas.
The prime minister said that he sees the most important economic task in the years ahead as being the successful consolidation of the competitiveness of the countries of Central Europe, together with the Western Balkans, through the establishment of the most extensive energy networks and other opportunities.
The prime minister explained that for years Hungary has been striving to establish natural gas supply routes with as many countries as possible. He pointed out that up until now, the interconnectors which are needed for gas transportation require certain tasks to be performed on them, but so far Romania and Croatia have failed to do these within their borders.
PM Orbán said that in terms of energy supply Hungary will be able to make its industry competitive, adding that in his opinion Serbia will only be able to become fully integrated with Europe if its energy system is capable of connecting to Central Europe.
The prime minister added that one of the great challenges for the future is to meet the world’s increasing energy demands – Central European region’s demand for energy increasing by three to five percent annually, he added. He said that in his opinion the EU should take action on energy price competition, where the United States leads and does well using this practice.