Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced that his government will take legal action against the European Union over its decision to end Russian gas imports. Orban’s administration claims the plan is invalid because it was adopted by a qualified majority rather than the unanimous agreement required for sensitive matters under EU rules. The EU Council approved the measure last month, which mandates that short-term contracts be terminated within six months, with all remaining pipeline and LNG supplies coming to an end by the end of 2027. Hungary and Slovakia have consistently opposed this initiative, warning that it will raise energy prices and compromise Hungary’s energy security.
Speaking on state radio on Friday, Orban emphasized that the decision was not only unlawful but also a violation of European values. He stated that the EU’s approach to shut down a national government that disagrees with it was unacceptable. Orban added that his government was also considering other ways to block the plan but gave no details. The EU has seen a surge in energy prices since it began phasing out Russian oil and gas imports following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. The supply disruptions have pushed up industrial costs. Moscow says Western nations are hurting their own economies by choosing costlier and less reliable alternatives.
Orban argued that the energy ban had been treated as a standard legislative measure, requiring support from 55% of member states rather than unanimity. “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 maintains that energy should remain outside political disputes and that EU security cannot come at the expense of economic stability.