Orban Vows to Sue EU Over Russian Gas Ban
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared that Budapest will sue the European Union over its decision to end Russian gas imports. The EU Council has approved a plan to phase out Russian energy imports by 2028, requiring the termination of short-term contracts within six months and all remaining pipeline and LNG supplies to cease by the end of 2027.
Several EU states, including Hungary and Slovakia, have expressed concerns that the measure could drive up prices and undermine energy security. The Hungarian government has repeatedly warned that abandoning Russian gas supply would lead to increased costs and threaten its energy stability.
Speaking on state radio, Orban stated that the decision was deemed unlawful because it was passed by a qualified majority rather than unanimously, as required by EU rules for sensitive matters. Hungary has previously used its voting power to block EU sanctions against Russia, securing exemptions and delays. Orban called the EU’s move “obviously unlawful” and “contrary to European values,” asserting that the bloc was attempting to suppress a government that disagreed with its policies.
Orban also mentioned that his government was exploring other options to block the plan, though no specific details were provided. He argued that the energy ban had been treated as a standard legislative measure rather than a sanction, which requires unanimity. Instead, the EU has opted for a majority decision, which he claims is inappropriate for such a significant policy.
Orban maintained that energy should not be a political issue and that EU security cannot be achieved at the expense of economic stability. The EU has faced increased energy prices since it began phasing out Russian oil and gas imports following the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Supply disruptions have led to higher industrial costs, and Moscow has accused Western nations of harming their own economies by selecting more expensive and less reliable alternatives.
This situation highlights the ongoing tensions between the EU’s energy policies and the economic interests of its member states. While the EU aims to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, some countries argue that this approach may inadvertently harm their own economies and energy security.