Hungary will take part in the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline as planned, according to the country’s prime minister Viktor Orban. He told Itar-Tass that while Hungary supports Ukraine, the partnership with Russia’s Gazprom for the pipeline was not threatened. “We will build South Stream, since this project enhances energy security of our country and we will not let Hungary be dependent on Ukraine,” he said. The European Commission has warned that the project violates the EU’s so-called Third Energy Package and called on European countries to end their involvement. Gazprom is anxious to complete the pipeline in order to reduce its dependence on transit countries. Hungary recently concluded a deal with Russia for the construction of new nuclear power blocks together with financing.
