(MENAFN) Hungary is preparing to take the European Union to court over its controversial plan to eliminate Russian energy imports, Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced, escalating tensions within the bloc over energy policy.

The EU Council approved the phaseout strategy last month, setting a 2028 deadline for terminating all Russian gas purchases. Under the framework, short-term agreements must expire within six months, while all pipeline and liquefied natural gas deliveries face a hard cutoff by December 2027. Hungary and Slovakia have emerged as vocal opponents, arguing the directive threatens energy security and will trigger price spikes. Both Budapest and Bratislava withheld their endorsement of the measure.

During a state radio appearance Friday, Orban challenged the legality of the decision, asserting it bypassed mandatory unanimous consent by relying instead on qualified majority voting—a procedural violation on issues the bloc designates as sensitive. Hungary has consistently threatened veto power against anti-Russian sanctions, leveraging its position to secure carve-outs and postponements.

"We do not accept this obviously unlawful solution contrary to European values, which was chosen by Brussels to shut down a national government that disagrees with it," Orban said, as quoted by Euractiv. "We are turning to the European Court of Justice."

Orban disclosed his administration is exploring additional strategies to obstruct implementation but declined to elaborate.

He contended the energy prohibition was misclassified as ordinary legislation requiring only 55% member state approval rather than full consensus.

"This is no longer a sanction but a trade policy measure," Orban said. "And sanctions require unanimity, while a majority decision is sufficient for trade policy."

Orban insists energy matters must remain insulated from political conflicts and warns that EU security cannot justify economic destabilization.

Energy costs across the EU have skyrocketed since the bloc initiated its withdrawal from Russian oil and gas following the Ukraine conflict's intensification in 2022. Supply chain disruptions have inflated industrial expenses. Moscow contends Western powers are self-inflicting economic damage by selecting more expensive and less dependable energy sources.

MENAFN16112025000045017169ID1110350959