Bulgaria has lately put a tax on Russian natural gas going through its territory, and a Hungarian minister has declared that Hungary has asked the European Commission (EC) to initiate legal actions against Bulgaria in connection with this.
According to WRAL News, Bulgaria hopes the tariff it imposed in October will lessen Gazprom's favourable position in Southeast Europe and limit Russian influence in the region.
However, Bulgaria's neighbour Serbia and EU member Hungary, both of which rely significantly on Russian gas, have voiced their displeasure with the fee. Russian gas is mostly provided to these countries via the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, which runs through both Turkey and Bulgaria.
Hungarian EU Affairs Minister János Boca said in a Facebook video that he has written to the EC requesting that it initiate infringement proceedings against Bulgaria. This is the first possible move the bloc could take to ensure its laws are observed by its Member States.
Boca claimed that the charge was imposed by Bulgaria without contacting Hungary and that this was against EU customs and trade regulations.
According to the Hungarian minister, "the Bulgarian energy tax seriously threatens the energy security of Hungary and the entire region," and if an infringement procedure is not begun by the end of the year, Budapest is prepared to take the matter to the EU's highest court.
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, most European countries stopped importing gas from Russia. However, in the 21 months since the war began, Hungary has lobbied Moscow hard for more lucrative gas arrangements.
Nevertheless, Bulgaria has permitted the Turkish Stream gas pipeline that passes through its territory to be used to supply Serbia and Hungary, two of Europe's most pro-Russian regimes, despite being cut off from Gazprom supplies shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
In October, the EU debated whether or not to implement the levy, which would place a price of 10 euros per kilowatt hour on the transportation of Russian gas, but has yet to reach a conclusion.
Rather than raising prices for Hungary and Serbia, the Bulgarian government believes the tax will reduce earnings for Gazprom. /BGNES
