Prague – According to Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS), Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer is ready to support the expansion of the TAL (Transalpine Oil Pipeline) pipeline capacity. The Czechia would thus have sufficient capacity in case it could not use oil from Russia. Fiala said this at today’s press conference after the meeting of the Prime Ministers in Prague. He also agreed with Nehammer to work with countries that can build and expand gas pipeline capacity and build new LNG terminals.

“I very much appreciate that the Chancellor is ready for his authority to support our efforts to expand the TAL pipeline so that we have sufficient oil capacity in the future in case oil from Russia could not be used for the Czech Republic,” said Fiala.

There is talk of greater use of the TAL pipeline in connection with a possible EU embargo on oil imports from Russia, which flows into the Czech Republic mainly through the Druzhba pipeline. The Czech Republic is connected to the TAL via the IKL product pipeline. Last year, the Czechia covered about 51 percent of oil imports, which amounted to 6.8 million tons, according to statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Also, the Ministry of Industry Jozef Síkela (for STAN) previously stated that offering to ensure the extended capacity of oil pipelines is the TAL leader from Trieste, Italy, which is also part of the previously announced energy at times.

Russian statesmen on the possibilities of reducing dependence on both countries, which is high in both countries. “We have agreed to work with countries that can build, expand capacity and build new LNG terminals,” said Fiala.

According to him, Austria is in a specific situation because it has one of the largest gas storage capacities in Europe. “We also talked about how it would be possible to use Czech capacity. the need to act with those owners, “the Czech Prime Minister added.

If, for appropriate reasons, Russia’s supplies to Europe were to end quickly before alternative capacities were built up, Fiala would need solidarity from other European countries towards those at the end of the pipeline, without ports and not being able to deal with the situation on their own.

Austria and the Czechia, on the other hand, share their views on nuclear energy. Austria has been rejecting it for a long time, while the Czech Republic wants to expand nuclear power plants so that it can give up coal energy by 2033.

“We have different views on nuclear energy. Austria spoke out against nuclear energy in the 1970s, but it has a more favorable geographical location in terms of the use of water, solar, wind and biomass forces. In terms of safety, we still have a dialogue Nehammer said.

Fiala said he understood the Austrian position. The Chancellors recalled the composition of the Czech energy mix and the reasons why nuclear energy is essential for the Czech Republic. He assured Nehammer that everything the Czechia did exceeded the necessary security standards. The Czechia is not indifferent to fears about the surrounding countries, the prime minister noted.

Fiala: The EU is acting inconsistently in the negotiations on the sixth sanctions package

Viola regrets at the negotiations on the embargo on Russian oil imports that the European Union is acting inconsistently. According to Nehammer, the European Commission (EC) should announce the results only after the end of the negotiations.

EU countries on Monday again disagreed on new sanctions against Russia, the adoption still hindered by disagreement over the Russian oil embargo. The European Commission (EC) proposed sanctions 13 days ago and has since come up with several adjustments to address the demands of opposing countries. Hungary and Slovakia received an exemption from the embargo, which is to apply from the end of this year, until the end of 2024, and the Czechia until the middle of the same year. While Bratislava and Prague, according to diplomats, are happy with the concessions, Budapest is imposing additional conditions.

According to Fiala, the EU looks divided on the outside. “The strength and quality of the European countries’ progress so far has been that we have always maintained external unity on the issue of sanctions and support for Ukraine, no matter how difficult the debate between us within the European Council,” the prime minister said.

According to him, Europe has always come to a conclusion that all member states could present, behind which they can stand and which strengthened the authority of the EU. It was also a strong sign for Russia that European states are united. “Unfortunately, at six, it sometimes didn’t work out,” Fiala added. He considers it necessary to open the matter at the European Council.

According to Nehammer, states that are dependent on Russian oil and gas must be given the perspective of ensuring energy security. “As far as sanctions are concerned, it is really important to negotiate with these states and then announce the results,” the Austrian chancellor added.

According to the Czech Republic and Austria, the Czech Presidency also has the most in the Western Balkans

According to Fila (Nehammer), the Czech presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of this year should also address the issue of the Western Balkans and its integration into the European Union.

After today’s meeting, Fiala stated that a shift in the integration of the countries of the Western Balkans into the EU is in the interests of both the Czech Republic and Austria. In this context, he welcomed the great commitment of Austria and its Chancellor, who offered the Czech Republic personal political support, his experience and contacts from the region. “This is an important topic for us also because our presidency is approaching,” said Fiala.

Nehammer demanded that the Czech prime minister not lose sight of the Western Balkans. “The world community is concentrating on the war in Ukraine and the Balkans are not getting so much attention,” he said. Ukraine has and needs support, but the Balkans also need support. “The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is very tense, and the EU needs attention here as well. I do not want the Balkans to feel that we have forgotten its candidacy for EU membership,” he said.

Ukraine’s path to the EU should also have transparent and equivalent rules in this regard, Nehammer said. “The Balkan states remain in line with the demands of the European Union and it is important for both of us that this is a clear and fair approach,” he said. He stressed that Austria will always be one of the leading supporters of Ukraine and its reconstruction.

I give a similar gift to Fial. “We are in favor of Ukraine gaining candidate status as soon as possible, because we realize that it would be a sign of great hope, open doors and a kind of moral reinforcements in these difficult times,” he said. However, in the interest of individual EU countries and Ukraine, I must supplement the necessary necessary parameters.

The Czechia is considering holding a summit with representatives of the Western Balkans during its presidency. However, it also depends on whether it will take place under the newer French Presidency. At the same time, Fiala called the holding of a summit on the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, which was attended by its president Volodymyr Zelensky. However, this depends on the situation in Ukraine.

According to the Chancellor, Austria’s entry into NATO is not on the table

Austria has a different position than Finland and Sweden, it was, will be neutral. The country’s entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is not on the table, Nehammer said.

Sweden and Finland are preparing to apply for NATO membership in the coming days in order to strengthen their security after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The only state in the alliance that you have entered reservations against their membership so far has been Turkey. As a member of NATO, Ankara could veto the entry of the Nordic countries.

Austria is not a member of the alliance and according to Nehammer, nothing will change. “We have a different history than Finland and Sweden. Austria has been, is and will be neutral, we have military neutrality,” he said. However, according to Nehammer, the country, as a member of the European Union, supports solidarity with Ukraine, supports sanctions against Russia and allows arms supplies to Ukraine. The position of the Scandinavian countries is different also because Finland, for example, shares a border of about 1,300 kilometers with Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that his country had no problem with Finland and Sweden joining NATO. According to him, this does not in itself pose a direct threat. Moscow would only change the possible expansion of NATO’s military infrastructure to these Scandinavian countries, Putin said. Last week, the Kremlin said Finland’s entry into NATO would be a threat to Russia.

Austria government diplomacy Fiala