Hungary said on Monday it has asked the European Union’s top court to annul a new law banning the import of Russian gas into the bloc, filing the legal challenge within hours of the measure taking effect
Hungary said on Monday it has asked the European Union’s top court to annul a new law banning the import of Russian gas into the bloc, filing the legal challenge within hours of the measure taking effect.
“Today, we took legal action before the European Court of Justice to challenge the REPowerEU regulation banning the import of Russian energy and request its annulment,” Hungary’s Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó said in a post on X.
EU member states agreed to an outright ban on Russian gas late last year in response to Moscow’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The law was adopted despite opposition from Hungary.
Szijjártó said Hungary’s challenge was based on three arguments.
“First, energy imports can only be banned through sanctions, which require unanimity. This regulation was adopted under the guise of a trade policy measure,” he said.
“Second, the EU Treaties clearly state that each member state decides its choice of energy sources and suppliers.
“Third, the principle of energy solidarity requires the security of energy supply for all member states. This decision clearly violates that principle, certainly in the case of Hungary.”
Slovakia has also said it will challenge the law in court.
With inputs from agencies
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