On 25 February, the European Commission convened an emergency meeting of the EU Oil Coordination Group to address the situation following the disruption of crude supplies to parts of Central Europe. After discussions, Member States' representatives concluded that during the outage the most suitable alternative route was a pipeline through the Adriatic Sea and Croatia, which allows for the supply of Hungary and Slovakia.
Croatian authorities confirmed during the meeting that non-Russian oil destined for both countries is already flowing through this route. Subsequently, the Adriatic Sea Pipeline Company announced that it had started loading oil for the Hungarian oil and gas company at its terminal in Omisalja, effectively launching the alternative supply.
At the same time, the resumption of operation of the Druzhba pipeline, which was suspended on 27 January, continues to be delayed. On 15 February, Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó Péter stated on social media that, as Ukraine had not yet resumed oil transit via this route, Hungary and Slovakia had asked Croatia for help in securing oil transport via the Adriatic pipeline.