Minister Says Serbia in Almost Hopeless Situation Due to Ban on Transit of Russian Gas through EU

Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said on Oct. 20 that Serbia was "in a very difficult and almost hopeless position after the EU Council adopted a ban on the transit of Russian gas through the EU to third-party countries."

"The gist is that Bulgaria will not allow the flow of Russian gas through the Balkan Stream, which will be to Serbia's detriment in the future, too. We hope that we can find a solution and we are doing everything in our power, but the situation is almost hopeless considering the current situation with the Petroleum Industry of Serbia," Djedovic Handanovic said.

The minister said Serbia was caught in the middle through no fault of its own, but that the government would "do its utmost in spite of it all to keep citizens from being affected by the problems facing the country," the Ministry of Mining and Energy said in a statement.

On Oct. 20, the Council of the European Union approved prohibiting the import of Russian natural gas to EU countries from Jan. 1, 2026. This ban would also apply to the transit of the fuel through the EU to countries outside the 27-nation bloc, with a transition period for existing deals. After the European Parliament defines its negotiating position, talks will begin between the EU Council and the EP on the final wording of this decree.