Slovakia and Hungary condemn EU's plan to phase out Russian energy

Slovakia and Hungary have condemned the European Commission’s new proposal to phase out Russian energy imports by 2027, warning the move would harm EU competitiveness.

Slovakia and Hungary condemned the European Commission’s latest plan to phase out Russian gas and other energy imports, deepening a growing divide between Brussels and some member states over how to handle future ties with Moscow.

The Commission announced Tuesday that it would propose legislation next month aimed at ending EU imports of Russian gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the close of 2027. The proposal would also impact Russian oil and include new trade restrictions on enriched uranium used in nuclear power - amounting to a levy or tax on such imports.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico responded sharply, acknowledging the goal of reducing energy reliance but warning the Commission’s approach would damage the EU’s economy.
“This is simply economic suicide to go to the point where neither gas, nor nuclear, nor oil - everything must end just because some new Iron Curtain is being built between the Western world and perhaps Russia and other countries,” he said. Fico added that Slovakia would push for revisions during the legislative process.

Slovakia’s state gas importer, SPP, echoed the concerns, warning the proposed measures could "have a significantly negative impact on the competitiveness of the business sector of the European Union."

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto also criticized the plan, calling it “unacceptable” and vowing that Budapest would “take the strongest possible steps” to challenge it, although he did not elaborate on what those would be.

The Commission’s proposals, expected in June, must be approved by the European Parliament and a qualified majority of EU member states - meaning opposition from one or two countries cannot block the plan outright.

Slovakia and Hungary both rely on Russian gas and oil and have also clashed with Ukraine over its decision to stop gas flows through its territory. Despite EU efforts to diversify, about 19% of Europe’s gas still comes from Russia - mostly through the TurkStream pipeline and LNG shipments, down from around 45% before the war.

Slovakia’s energy ministry said that in 2023, 10 of the EU’s 27 member states still imported Russian gas.

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