Hungary Challenges EU’s Russian Energy Ban at European Court

(MENAFN) Hungary plans to contest the European Union’s RePowerEU restriction on Russian energy at the European Court of Justice once the initiative is formally adopted next week, according to Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.

The EU introduced the RePowerEU scheme in 2022 following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, with the goal of completely ending imports of Russian fossil fuels by the close of 2027.

Last week, a tentative agreement was reached between the European Council and the European Parliament, establishing a cessation of Russian liquefied natural gas imports by the end of 2026, while pipeline deliveries are scheduled to be gradually eliminated by November 2027.

Hungary and Slovakia, both of which are still heavily reliant on Russian energy, have expressed opposition to the plan, arguing that it would threaten their national energy security.

In a post on X on Sunday, Szijjarto stated that Budapest and Bratislava intend to submit an “annulment request to the European Court of Justice” immediately after the regulation is adopted. They will also request a suspension of the rules while the court reviews the case.

“We are taking this step because banning Russian oil and gas imports would make the secure energy supply of Hungary and Slovakia impossible and would lead to dramatic price increases,” he said, calling the regulation “massive legal fraud.”

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