On March 3, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten said he was ready to support the establishment of an inspection team from the European Union (EU) to verify the status of the Druzhba oil pipeline.
This is a direct response to requests from Hungary and Slovakia - two countries accusing Kiev of preventing the flow of Russian crude oil through Ukrainian territory. "If an investigation team helps thoroughly resolve the issue and restore consensus, I fully support it," Mr. Jetten affirmed.
The change in the Netherlands' stance takes place in the context that the government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is determined to freeze the EU military loan worth 90 billion euros (about 98.1 billion USD) for Ukraine.
Budapest accuses Kiev of deliberately not repairing damaged pipeline sections to put political pressure ahead of the election in Hungary on April 12. Mr. Orbán and Slovakia's support demand that Kiev immediately restore crude oil supplies to ensure energy security in Central Europe.
The Druzhba pipeline is the longest oil pipeline system in the world, connecting Russia to Central and Eastern European countries. After entering Belarus, the pipeline is divided into 2 branches: the northern branch passes through Poland to Germany, and the southern branch passes through Ukraine to Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
For coastal countries like Hungary and Slovakia, this southern branch is the sole and irreplaceable source of crude oil, helping to operate their giant refineries.
Because of this crucial role, any disruption on Ukrainian territory immediately pushes Hungary and Slovakia into a state of energy crisis and hyperinflation.
Budapest's association of pipeline repair conditions with aid packages for Kiev has turned Druzhba into a "geopolitical weapon", forcing Western countries to reconsider their tough stance on Ukraine to protect intra-EU stability.
Although agreeing to the investigation, Mr. Jetten emphasized the urgency of the aid package as Ukraine needs to receive money before the end of this month to maintain its defense capabilities. The Dutch leader considered this a typical example showing that the EU needs to change its decision-making mechanism, limiting the veto power that is allowing a single country to paralyze common policies.
In the context of declining support from the US, Mr. Jetten affirmed that European countries must take on greater responsibility for regional security.
Besides the crisis in Ukraine, the Dutch Prime Minister also expressed concern about the impact of the war in Iran on the energy market. He warned that prolonged instability in the Strait of Hormuz will certainly push fuel prices to an uncontrollable level, putting heavy pressure on the entire bloc.
The issue of energy prices and redesigning the electricity market will be the focus at the European Council Summit taking place on March 19 and 20.
