Central Europe can shed its dependence on Russian energy, according to Czech PM Petr Fiala, but it will need European solidarity to do so. Because of its geographical position, he said, the CR is at the end of all the energy pipelines, and Slovakia, Hungary and part of
Austria are in a similar situation. Yet Fiala’s adviser for foreign policy and security, Tomáš Pojar, told Czech Radio that the Czech government doesn’t believe talk of solidarity in terms of increasing the capacity of the TAL oil pipeline, given past actions in Bavaria to
block the increase. The CR wants an outright guarantee. Fine, but while it is at it, the Fiala government could also seek a guarantee that Germany will start showing some solidarity in terms of natural gas. German energy traders are reselling Russian gas to Czechs with a
300% markup, which is driving companies and households to the brink of despair. One of the biggest mysteries of the energy crisis is why Fiala is not doing anything about this.

FW220509

Source