Szijjártó: Hungary’s energy supply is completely secure
The warring parties, the Russians and the Ukrainians, are blaming each other and making it responsible for the fighting. The German press is already talking about Ukraine losing and Moscow winning – that’s what Péter Szijjártó was asked about on Kossuth Radio’s Sunday Newspaper. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade also spoke about the energy situation and Hungary’s position on global minimum supply.
The full interview can be listened back here.
Péter Szijjártó said: Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to talk about the end of the war. For us, this has been a constant security risk for more than a hundred days, and it is not just about physical, but also about economic and energy threats. We face serious challenges, not just for us, but for Europe and even for the whole world.
Due to the war of the last hundred days, a picture emerges of a global economic crisis. War is a terrible thing and it is in the interest of all of us to end it as soon as possible.
Hungary has taken a clear position from the beginning: we condemn the aggression against Ukraine, stand up for Ukraine and carry out the country’s greatest humanitarian action ever. Tens of thousands of people banded together to help refugees before the war.
Only the government maintains its position that it is their duty to maintain the security of Hungary. Our country also represents in NATO that a NATO-Russia conflict should not develop, because it would have very serious consequences. Fortunately, sober voices are still in the majority and NATO as an alliance is not going into war.
Hungary’s energy supply remains stable
The Foreign Minister stated: Hungary’s energy supply is completely secure. Natural gas and crude oil are continuously supplied to Hungary. We have a long-term gas contract with Russian Gazprom.
Péter Szijjártó: The supply of natural gas to Hungary is still uninterrupted
Most of Hungary’s supply comes through Austria and Serbia.
Péter Szijjártó said: A few weeks ago, when the first news arrived that the supply to some countries would be stopped,
he spoke to the CEO of Gazprom and Russia’s deputy prime minister for energy. Both assured that gas would continue to arrive in Hungary as stipulated in the contract.
The stagnation and crisis in energy supply in Europe is causing serious inflation and rising energy prices are dragging on. War peace can only be curbed by peace, the foreign minister said.
The global minimum tax would endanger tens of thousands of jobs in Hungary
Regarding the global minimum tax, Péter Szijjártó said:
As a result of the war, a global economic crisis is beginning to emerge before our eyes, as a result of war inflation, energy prices are rising and productive companies are bearing the brunt of this. If we impose another tax on them, there would be layoffs and bankruptcies.
tens of thousands of jobs could be at risk and millions in Europe. Furthermore, increasing the burden on manufacturing companies would lead to another rise in prices, which would further increase inflation, although this should be avoided at all costs.
Hungary rejects global minimum tax
He does not support the introduction of a global minimum tax in Hungary in Europe – this was personally confirmed by Mihály Varga at the meeting of the individual finance ministers. According to the Hungarian government, one of the secrets to the success of the Hungarian economy is that the tax level is low, so it is worthwhile for foreign companies to come here.
If they wanted to introduce this in an efficient Europe from 023 onwards, the rest of the world would not be so zealous, and European companies could be at a huge competitive disadvantage. We do not agree with the American leadership on the introduction of a minimum tax, but there is an agreement among American Republicans on this issue.
Péter Szijjártó: The introduction of a global minimum tax would have dramatic effects in Europe
He pointed out that at the time of the agreement, it was still a question of making large digital technology companies more transparent than taxation and the global minimum tax moving forward together.