Hungary seeks US exemption from proposed Russian energy tariffs

Hungary is seeking an exemption from proposed US legislation that would impose punitive tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy, according to Márton Hajdú, chair of the Hungarian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.

Hajdú wrote on Facebook that he raised the issue during a visit to Washington, where he also discussed prospects for parliamentary cooperation between Hungary and the United States with representatives of the Republican majority in the US House of Representatives, Caliber.Az reports.

He said the proposed legislation, which would introduce tariffs on major buyers of Russian energy resources, poses a potential risk to Hungary because of its reliance on Russian energy supplies.

Hajdú also said Hungary’s Tisza party recognises the risks associated with energy dependence on Russia and is expected to prepare a plan to address the issue in the near future.

However, he said Hungary would need an exemption from the US legislation until alternative measures to diversify the country’s energy supplies are implemented.

“I have appealed to our American partners to intervene so that Hungary may be exempted from this law, and also so that the United States supports our country’s efforts to diversify its energy supply,” Hajdú said.

By Sabina Mammadli