Hungary And Slovakia Challenge EU Russian Energy Phase-Out At the Top Court

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief reporting from Budapest, Hungary

BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Hungary and possibly neighboring Slovakia will challenge a European Union decision to phase out Russian energy sources at the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto reacted angrily, saying most EU members have agreed to end Russian gas imports by late 2027 as part of an effort to end the bloc’s decades-long dependency on Russian energy.

The decision went against Hungary and Slovakia’s opposition.

Slovakia is also weighing its legal options against the EU order, as both countries remain highly reliant on natural gas and oil supplies from Moscow and fear that more costly alternatives will damage their economies.

Hungary, together with Slovakia, is preparing a coordinated legal challenge at the ECJ, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó confirmed.

REGIONAL LEGAL CHALLENGE GATHERS MOMENTUM

He said the EU decision “oversteps competences” and threatens the region’s energy security.

“Accepting and implementing this Brussels order is impossible for Hungary,” Szijjártó said. He argued the EU measure was “a sanctions policy disguised as trade regulation” and violated the bloc’s founding treaties.

Szijjártó added that Hungary will formally submit the case once the decision is finalized in Brussels.

He stressed that he had already agreed with Slovakia’s foreign minister on the coordination of the legal strategy.

Slovakia’s government also met on Wednesday to examine its options. Prime Minister Robert Fico said his country had “sufficient legal grounds to consider filing a lawsuit.”

EU DEFENDS ENERGY DEADLINE AS SECURITY PRIORITY

He added that his government would assess whether the EU’s executive, the European Commission, fulfilled the guarantees meant to protect Slovakia from supply shortages or sharp price spikes during the phase-out.

Yet EU officials insisted the phase-out is essential to reduce the bloc’s exposure to geopolitical pressure from Moscow and accelerate the “green” transition.

They recalled that the measure was adopted by majority vote, meaning Hungary and Slovakia cannot block it.

Slovakia previously secured EU guarantees during sanctions negotiations, but those conditions do not apply to the new legislative phase-out plan. Fico reiterated that Bratislava will soon evaluate whether the European Commission met its commitments.

Hungary maintains that the order violates EU treaties by restricting member states’ freedom to determine their own energy mix. Minister Szijjártó emphasized the government would launch its court action immediately after Brussels finalizes the rule.

Slovakia has not yet confirmed whether it will formally join the lawsuit, but says all legal options remain on the table as it reviews the potential economic impact.

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