Member of European Parliament Dubravka Šuica took part in the hearing of Alenka Bratušek, the Slovenian candidate for the European Commission vice-president for energy union.

“Seeing that we depend on Russian energy products, especially gas, I believe that it is necessary to consider other options. Diversification of energy sources protects us from the arbitrariness of the suppliers, who believe that they are the ones holding the reins and that they can impose any conditions they want by means of pressure”, said Šuica about the Russian monopoly on gas supply to Europe.

The president of the Croatian delegation of the EPP Group emphasized that one of the options for gas independence of the EU is the Transadriatic Pipeline (TAP), which is not only important for Croatia but also for the Southeast part of Europe due to the intended connection to the gas from Azerbaijan which would diminish the dependence on Russian energy products.

“I would also like to know if you have a strategy for the future decrease of the dependence on Russian gas and will it be affected by your past good cooperation with Russia?”, asked Šuica.

In her reply the former Slovenian Prime Minister spoke in favour of the TAP pipeline and emphasized that in order to reach the goal of an energy independent Union more such projects are needed.

Šuica finally asked Bratušek about the anti-European videos in which Bratušek apparently extolled communism: “Do you believe that it is time to disassociate yourself, in accordance with the Resolution of the European Parliament, from communism and look towards the future?”

Bratušek replied that the song “Viva el comunismo” is not a procommunist song, but a Slovenian antifascist song, which sparked disbelief among the members of Parliament.