Hungary has asked the EC to initiate criminal proceedings against Bulgaria because of the fee for the transfer of Russian gas

Hungary has asked the European Commission to open criminal proceedings against Bulgaria because of the recently announced new tax on the transit of Russian gas through the country, the Associated Press reports, referring to a statement by the Hungarian Minister for Europe Janos Boka, BTA informs.

In a Facebook video, Boca announced that he had sent a letter to the European Commission with a request to open a criminal procedure against Bulgaria, which is the first step in enforcing compliance with the rules by member states. Boca complains that Bulgaria imposed the new fee without consulting Hungary and claims it is in breach of European customs and trade rules.

"The Bulgarian tax seriously threatens the energy security of Hungary and the entire region," says Boka and adds that Budapest is ready to take the case to the highest European court by the end of the year if the European Commission does not react and initiate criminal proceedings.

Bulgaria claims that the new fee aims to limit Gazprom's privileged position in the gas market in Southeastern Europe and reduce Russian influence in the region.

However, the fee has seriously angered Hungary and Serbia, which are supplied with gas mainly from Russia via the Turkish Stream and Balkan Stream gas pipelines.

The levy of 20 BGN (10 EUR) per megawatt hour was discussed in Brussels in October, but no decision was reached as to whether it was justified and legal. The Bulgarian government claims that the tax will not raise gas prices for Serbia and Hungary, but will only reduce Gazprom's profits.