Bulgaria will continue to facilitate the transit of natural gas to Hungary, a crucial development as the TurkStream pipeline has become the primary route for Hungary’s gas supply, according to Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó. Following discussions with his new Bulgarian counterpart, Georg Georgiev, Szijjártó shared the positive news in a Facebook post, emphasizing the importance of Bulgaria’s stability after months of coalition talks.
Szijjártó expressed that Hungary has a vested interest in Bulgaria’s political stability, as both countries rely on strong bilateral cooperation on a range of strategic issues. Earlier, the two ministers held a phone conversation, where they reaffirmed their mutual commitment to further enhancing bilateral relations.
Szijjártó also highlighted Hungary’s support for Bulgaria’s Schengen accession, a stance for which Georgiev expressed gratitude. Hungary has also shown its backing for Bulgaria’s bid to join the OECD and maintains a deep respect for the Bulgarian community in Hungary. In their conversation, the two leaders also agreed to continue working together in the fight against illegal immigration and stressed the importance of peace in the Central European region.
On the topic of energy security, Szijjártó emphasized that Hungary’s gas supply is largely dependent on the TurkStream pipeline, making it critical for countries along the pipeline route to ensure uninterrupted transit. He noted that Bulgaria had assured Hungary it would remain a reliable transit country, despite challenges faced by the pipeline in recent times, including political, physical, and financial threats.
