Croatia expressed readiness to support the Adria pipeline and ensure stable fuel supplies to Central Europe, refuting accusations of unreliability and speculation during the war. This was stated by the country’s Minister of Economy, Ante Šušnjar. He stressed that Croatia acted responsibly and transparently on issues of regional energy security, especially in cooperation with Hungary and Slovakia.
When we were told that the “Adria” pipeline had no capacity – that was false. When we were accused of “war-time speculation” – our tariffs remain transparent and market-based
– Ante Šušnjar
“No one should be left without fuel,” the minister added, emphasizing that energy accessibility must remain a priority despite political attacks.
The Adria pipeline is ready, so no EU country has any technical justification to stay tied to Russian oil. A barrel bought in Russia may seem cheaper for some countries, but it helps finance the war and attacks on the Ukrainian people. It’s time to end this war-time speculation.
– Ante Šušnjar
The minister also noted that infrastructure does not change overnight, and narratives sometimes shift, but Croatia is ready to act in the interests of Europe’s energy security and to comply with EU law.
Background and context
On February 16, Hungary and Slovakia asked Croatia to allow the supply of Russian crude via the Adria pipeline, while the key route through Ukraine remained blocked.
The Hungarian foreign minister expressed hope that Croatia would ensure stability in supply and would not exert political pressure, as, in his words, Ukraine does. Bloomberg previously noted that Slovakia and Hungary, landlocked and neighboring Ukraine, historically depended on Russian oil and gas. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, both countries launched several diversification initiatives.
Slovakia imports about a third of its oil from non-Russian sources via the Adria pipeline, which runs through the Balkans and Hungary, and has signed a number of flexible contracts with Western gas suppliers.