EU member states are responsible for the application of sanctions, and therefore it is up to Croatia to decide whether to allow the transport of Russian oil through the Adria pipeline. European Commission (EC) spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonenová responded to a journalist’s question on Friday, whether Croatia can deliver Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary via the Adria pipeline, writes TASR according to the HINA agency report.
- EU member states independently decide on the application of sanctions on their territory.
- The sixth package of EU sanctions banned the import of Russian oil by sea in 2022.
- The Hungarian company MOL threatens to sue if the Croatian JANAF does not allow the transit of oil.
- The Družba oil pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia is closed after the alleged Russian attack in Ukraine.
As part of the sixth package of anti-Russian sanctions, the EU banned the import of Russian oil by sea in June 2022. Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, as landlocked countries, received an exception at that time in case it was not possible to supply it via oil pipelines. Croatia declared last week that will not allow the transport of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via Adria.
On Thursday, the Hungarian oil company MOL called on the Croatian company JANAF, as the operator of the Adria pipeline, to “immediately provide guarantees that it will allow the passage of unsanctioned shipments of Russian oil arriving by sea.” “According to EU and US sanctions, the Croatian pipeline operator must do so. MOL expects a direct response from the Croatian company no later than February 27, 2026. In case of refusal, MOL can turn to the European Commission and file a claim for damages,” announced the Hungarian company.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Wednesday that there is no real reason to maintain the exemption. He also stated that Slovakia and Hungary “have no problem supplying everything they need” and that the Adria pipeline is not only an alternative or secondary supply route, but can also serve as a primary pipeline for both countries.
From January 27, Russian oil will not flow through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia. According to Ukraine, it was damaged by a Russian attack in the city of Brody in the Lviv region. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico suspect Kyiv of political blackmail and interference in the election campaign in Hungary. Ukraine denies this and says it is working to repair damaged infrastructure.
