US EditionHungary Takes EU to Court over Russian Energy Ban
Hungary argues the ban threatens its energy security and low utility costs, challenging the EU measure that passed with 24 member states in favor.
- On Feb. 2, Hungary filed at the European Court of Justice seeking annulment of the Russian energy ban from 2027, citing energy security concerns.
- Citing procedural rules, Szijjártó argued EU treaties allow member states to choose energy sources and that sanctions require unanimity, not qualified majority, under the ordinary legislative procedure.
- Under EU voting rules, 24 of 27 member states backed the regulation, while Hungary and Slovakia opposed, and Bulgaria abstained; a blocking minority requires at least 13 governments or four representing 35 percent.
- Szijjártó warned the legal case could last one to two years, saying the ban would jeopardise energy security and utility cost reductions for Hungarian households.
- Despite steep reductions in Russian imports, the EU's REPowerEU strategy aims to end reliance on Moscow's energy after 2022, while Russian gas exports via TurkStream increased 10.3% in January.
47 Articles
47 Articles
Hungary Launches Legal Action Against EU Energy Regulation
Hungary will not allow Brussels to use legal manoeuvres to deprive the country of affordable energy and will initiate court proceedings against the REPowerEU regulation, requesting its annulment by the Court of Justice of the European Union, the minister for European Union affairs wrote on Facebook on Monday. In his post, János Bóka said Brussels had ‘opened a new front in the energy war’ and was seeking to cut Hungary off from cheap Russian cru…
Slovakia to sue EU after Brussels decrees total ban on Russian...
Slovakia PM Robert Fico says that many of the EU's decisions are now in violation of the EU's founding treaties Slovakia is obliged to stop taking over Russian gas by Nov. 1, 2027, at the latest, and according to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, the EU decision to ban all gas from member states amounts to "energy suicide." As a result, Bratislava will file a lawsuit at the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) against the newly adopted …
The European Commission plans to apply the RepowerEU Regulation, which bans imports of Russian gas, from 2027, despite Hungary's legal action to annul it.
Hungary sues EU over 2027 Russian gas import ban
Hungary has filed a lawsuit at the European Court of Justice challenging the REPowerEU regulation that would fully ban imports of Russian natural gas starting in 2027, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said. “Without Russian oil and natural gas, neither the country’s energy security nor the achievements in lowering utility bills can be guaranteed,” Szijjarto said, defending the move. Hungary argues such a decision can only be taken under the EU’s…
The European Union has decided to end the import of natural gas from Russia by the end of 2027 at the latest. At the vote last week, 24 EU countries voted in favour, Hungary and Slovakia against, Bulgaria abstained. While the governments in Budapest and Bratislava want to bring the decision before the European Court of Justice (ECJ), Europe's commentators discuss what the gas supply of the future should look like.
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