The foreign minister said central Europe’s competitiveness hinges on intensifying inter-state transport and energy connections.
After meeting Slovenian infrastructure minister Jernej Vrtovec, Péter Szijjártó underlined the importance of connecting Hungary and Slovenia’s electricity and gas pipelines and increasing the number of border crossings.
The minister said the countries’ electricity networks will be connected by the end of next year, with high-voltage networks operating between Hévíz and Cirkovce. He said the preparations are ready on Hungary’s side and are under way in Slovenia. He said physical work will start in September, adding that the project was a major step forward in terms of improving Hungary’s electricity supply and forming a unified electricity network in the region.
Hungary and Slovenia have also initiated a political agreement on building a gas interconnector. The minister said that once the gas pipeline networks of the two countries are connected, Hungary will be able to purchase gas from Italy. He said both the electricity and gas network connections would improve the security of energy supply in Hungary and Slovenia.