Hungary’s oil and gas group MOL has demanded that Croatia’s pipeline operator JANAF guarantee the transit of Russian crude arriving by sea, warning it may seek damages and turn to the European Commission if access is denied.
MOL said on Thursday it expects a direct response from JANAF by Feb. 27, arguing that under European Union and U.S. sanctions rules, the Croatian operator is obliged to allow shipments of non-sanctioned Russian crude destined for landlocked EU member states.
“According to relevant EU and U.S. sanctions, JANAF has no other option but to allow the transit of Russian crude oil shipments arriving by sea,” MOL said in a statement. The company added it could initiate proceedings before EU authorities, including the European Commission’s competition directorate, and seek compensation for any financial damage caused by delays.
The dispute follows requests by Hungary and Slovakia for Croatia to enable deliveries of Russian oil via the Adriatic pipeline after flows through the Druzhba pipeline were disrupted.
Croatia’s Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar, speaking during an official visit to Washington, said Zagreb would not yield to pressure and would comply with international law and sanctions regimes.
“We are a sovereign state and we do not have to act under anyone’s pressure,” Šušnjar told reporters. “We will consistently implement our partner policies and will not agree to any blackmail or pressure from anyone.”
Šušnjar said JANAF was a reliable partner offering competitive transit fees and noted that Croatia is currently supplying non-Russian crude to Hungary. He urged EU partners, particularly Hungary and Slovakia, to reduce reliance on Russian fossil fuels in solidarity with Ukraine.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said Croatia’s Adriatic pipeline and oil terminal on the island of Krk have sufficient capacity to meet Hungary’s and Slovakia’s energy needs, stressing that supplies can be ensured without Russian crude.
The row highlights tensions within the EU over energy security and sanctions policy nearly four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.