Hungary, very dependent on Russian energy, vigorously opposed Monday, September 26 to any sanction of the European Union which would affect nuclear cooperation with Moscow, after consultations this weekend in Brussels on new measures.
"
Unfortunately, certain entities within the EU (...) continue to try to put obstacles in the way of nuclear investments
", regretted the Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijjarto, at the podium of the annual General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.
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For him, these are "
attacks on the sovereignty
" of this landlocked central European country, which benefits from derogations from the European oil embargo and does not want to hear about other energy sanctions, even indirect ones. (construction, engineering or IT services).
It is "
a red line
", he insisted, adding that such measures would "
violate European rules
".
Nuclear concerns
Hungary is due to start work on two new nuclear reactors shortly, in collaboration with the Russian conglomerate Rosatom.
They will complete the four current units, supplied with fuel from Russia and which provide nearly half of the electricity production.
The break in nuclear cooperation with Russia is demanded by the countries in favor of strong sanctions - the Baltic States, Poland and Ireland - but it does not achieve consensus within the Twenty-Seven, according to a European diplomatic source.
Bulgaria, already deprived of Russian gas, is also worried: its only nuclear power plant produces around a third of the country's electricity.
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More broadly, Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, anxious to maintain close ties with the Kremlin, once again castigated the EU's strategy on Monday, in a context of galloping inflation.
"
Europe has shot itself in the foot (...) A dwarf imposes sanctions on a giant, while sanctions can only work if it's the other way around
", he said. in Budapest, in a speech to Parliament.