Hungary will take legal action at the European Union’s top court to challenge new EU rules phasing out imports of Russian gas, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Monday.
Szijjarto said Budapest will ask the Court of Justice of the European Union to annul the regulation once it is formally published, arguing that the decision breaches EU treaties by interfering with national authority over energy policy.
"We will use every legal means to have it annulled," Szijjarto said in a post on X.
He claimed the EU had used a "legal trick" to pass what he described as a sanctions-style measure as a trade decision, allowing it to be adopted without unanimous approval by member states.
"The treaties are clear: decisions on the energy mix are a national competence," Szijjarto said. "Banning Hungary from buying oil and gas from Russia goes against our national interest and would significantly increase energy costs for Hungarian families."
The European Union on Monday formally adopted new rules to gradually phase out imports of Russian pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), with the measures approved by all 27 member states, according to the EU Council.
Under the regulation, restrictions on Russian gas imports will begin six weeks after the rules enter into force. Existing contracts will be allowed to continue during a transition period to limit market disruption and price shocks.
A full ban on LNG imports from Russia will apply from the beginning of 2027, while pipeline gas imports will be prohibited from autumn 2027.
EU member states will be required to verify the origin of gas before authorising its entry into the bloc. Companies must also inform national authorities and the European Commission of any remaining contracts involving Russian gas.
The regulation includes monitoring requirements, supply diversification obligations and penalties for violations, including fines of at least €2.5 million for individuals and €40 million for companies, or up to 3.5% of a firm’s global annual turnover.
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said.&nbs...
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on D...
Nigeria's first Ebola case in more than a decade may be linked to travel in Uganda, Swiss authorities said on Thursday, although the source of ...
Russia is willing in principle to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the United States in November, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said after President Vladimir Putin met U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg.
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on Dammam airport, while Iran's IRGC Navy claimed strikes on seven vessels and warned the U.S. of a wider response.
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said. Meanwhile, Russia said it had intercepted the vast majority of 630 Ukrainian drones launched towards Moscow.
Yemen's Houthis have denied targeting the holy city of Medina on Wednesday adding that they have not conducted any military operations towards Saudi Arabia either, denying earlier comments from the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
Georgia’s Constitutional Court in Batumi will on Wednesday hear a lawsuit seeking to ban five Georgian opposition parties, four of which collectively gained 784,820 votes (37.79 per cent) in the country’s last national elections in 2024.
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said. Meanwhile, Russia said it had intercepted the vast majority of 630 Ukrainian drones launched towards Moscow.
Nigeria's first Ebola case in more than a decade may be linked to travel in Uganda, Swiss authorities said on Thursday, although the source of infection remains unclear. Uganda maintains it has no cases of the disease.
Super typhoon Champi is set to batter Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture from Friday (23 October), bringing violent winds, torrential rain and waves up to 11 metres high, as airlines cancel flights and organisers scrap a major festival.
Two women from Austria and Switzerland have been freed after lengthy periods in captivity in Niger, following extensive diplomatic efforts to secure their release amid growing concerns over kidnappings in the Sahel region.
France has reported its first known human case of Shamonda virus following the death of an infected patient, authorities said on Thursday (22 October). The virus, typically found in livestock, is believed to have been transmitted by a biting midge.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment