Hungary Ignites Legal Battle Against EU Over Russian Energy Policy
Brussels Faces Challenge as Budapest Cites Sovereignty and Economic Stability
Brussels is facing a significant legal challenge to its energy policy as Hungary announced it has filed a lawsuit with the European Union’s highest court, seeking to annul the bloc’s phased ban on Russian energy imports. The move underscores deep divisions within the EU over sanctions strategy and energy security, with Budapest arguing the policy is illegal, economically damaging, and infringes upon national sovereignty.
The EU’s Energy Transition Plan
Last month, the EU Council approved a controversial plan aimed at gradually phasing out Russian gas imports by 2028. This strategy mandates the termination of short-term contracts within six months and the cessation of all remaining pipeline and LNG supplies by the end of 2027. The initiative has been met with fierce criticism from several member states, who warn of escalating energy prices and threats to their national energy security. Hungary and Slovakia have notably refused to endorse the proposal.
Hungary’s Legal Offensive
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó formally announced the legal action via social media, stating that Hungary will “challenge the EU’s reinforcement regulations banning Russian energy imports and request their annulment.” Szijjártó detailed three primary arguments underpinning the lawsuit:
- Legality of Restrictions: He asserted that restrictions on energy imports can only be imposed through sanctions, which require unanimous consensus among member states for approval.
- Violation of Sovereignty: Szijjártó emphasized that EU treaties explicitly grant each member state the right to determine its own energy sources and suppliers. He accused the EU of adopting the measure “under the guise of a trade policy” despite being fully aware of Hungary’s (and Slovakia’s) opposition.
- Breach of Energy Solidarity: The minister further contended that the regulation contravenes the fundamental principle of energy solidarity within the bloc.
Economic and Geopolitical Stakes
Budapest warns that the EU’s policy forces member states to embrace “more expensive and less reliable alternatives,” thereby undermining energy security and making it impossible to maintain affordable energy costs for Hungarian families. Szijjártó also highlighted external pressures from “international energy world experts” to abandon cost-effective Russian energy in favor of more expensive American sources, noting the EU’s increasing reliance on U.S. natural gas, projected to constitute nearly half of the bloc’s supply by 2030.
The legal proceedings are anticipated to be protracted, potentially lasting up to two years, and their outcome could carry significant political implications for Hungary’s ruling party. This lawsuit represents a critical moment for the EU, testing the limits of its collective policymaking power against the individual sovereignty and economic concerns of its member states amidst a volatile global energy landscape.
