A gas pipeline connecting Hungary and Croatia will be completed by the end of the year and will operate at full capacity from the middle of next year, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai announced after meeting his Croatian counterpart Jadranka Kosor in Zagreb on Monday.
The pipeline will be capable of transporting 6-6.5 billion cubic metres of gas annually.
Kosor and Bajnai discussed other economic matters, as well as Croatia’s planned EU accession. Bajnai stressed that national consensus prevails in Hungary on the need to support Croatia economically and in foreign policy. Hungary is the fourth largest investor in Croatia.
Bajnai stressed the part played by MOL and INA in operating the pipeline, adding that MOL is preparing to play a long-term role in Croatia.
Kosor expressed hope that the number of Hungarian tourists visiting Croatia will rise this year following a recent decline.
The two leaders will meet at a Danube conference in Budapest in late February, and at a Visegrád Four summit on energy.
Bajnai’s arrival in Zagreb was delayed by several hours as weather did not permit his plane to land.
Bajnai later proceeded to Vienna to address a Euromoney conference today.