The long-term cooperation agreement on the use of nuclear energy between Hungary and Russia will help increase the energy security of the European Union as a whole, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán wrote in a letter to José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission.

In the letter dated 23 January, Prime Minister Orbán assured President Barroso that the Hungarian authorities will continually brief the European Commission on the implementation of the agreement signed between the two countries.

The accord was drafted with the full consideration of the applicable EU rules and regulations, and it makes a special reference to the obligations to which Hungary is bound as an EU member state.

The letter added that the Government seeks to guarantee the long-term energy security of Hungary, and the choice best ensures compatibility with the existing Russian reactors, which is an elementary safety consideration.

The Prime Minister noted that the Commission had raised no objections to the draft agreement submitted on 10 December 2013, in view of which the intergovernmental accord was signed on 14 January 2014.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, dated 7 February, President Barroso said that the European Commission had made significant observations with regard to the draft agreement but had raised no objections of principle.

However, there are other aspects of EU law yet to be observed, such as the rules on public procurement and state aid.

Mr. Barroso expressed his hope that the European Commission can count on the same constructive and transparent approach towards addressing these issues in relation to the maintenance of capacity of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant and Hungarian energy policy in general.


Please find attached the full text of the two letters as well as the Government’s notification addressed to the European Commission under Article 103 of the Euratom Treaty.

(Prime Minister’s Office)