Hungary to launch challenge against EU plan to ban Russian energy, says FM

BRUSSELS - Hungary will challenge the European Union's (EU) ban on Russian energy sources at the Court of Justice of the EU once the decision is finalized, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said on Wednesday.

The Council of EU presidency and the European Parliament's representatives on Wednesday reached a provisional agreement on the regulation to phase out imports of Russian natural gas. The regulation introduces a legally binding, stepwise prohibition on both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and pipeline gas imports from Russia, with a full ban from the end of 2026 and autumn 2027 respectively.

"It is impossible for Hungary to accept, implement, and fulfill this Brussels dictate," said Szijjarto during a briefing streamed on his Facebook page.

He said that complying with the ban would place certain market players and countries in a position of monopoly over Hungary, and once implemented, it would increase Hungarian households' energy bills by at least threefold.

Szijjarto described the decision as "completely contrary" to the EU's founding treaty, which grants member states competence over national energy policy, and called it a sanctions measure "presented under the disguise of trade policy".

Slovakia is also considering legal action against the EU order, as both countries remain heavily dependent on Russian gas and oil supplies, according to Szijjarto. He said Hungary and Slovakia have agreed to coordinate their legal efforts and file a joint challenge once the regulation is adopted.