Hungary Challenges REPowerEU Ban on Russian Energy

Hungary has filed a lawsuit with the European Union’s top court to challenge the bloc’s ban on Russian natural gas imports, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced. The legal action targets the REPowerEU regulation, which mandates a complete phase-out of Russian energy supplies by 2027, arguing it violates EU treaties and threatens Hungary’s energy security.

The EU Council approved the measure last month, requiring all short-term gas contracts to end within six months and halting remaining pipeline and liquefied natural gas imports by the end of 2027. Hungary and Slovakia have been among the most vocal opponents, warning that the policy would raise consumer costs and compromise reliable supply. Szijjarto confirmed the challenge on social media, stating Hungary will seek the regulation’s annulment based on three core arguments.

First, he asserted that restrictions on energy imports must be imposed through sanctions, which require unanimous member state approval, not via trade policy as the EU did. Second, he cited EU treaties guaranteeing each country the right to determine its own energy sources and suppliers. Third, he claimed the ban breaches the principle of energy solidarity, unfairly burdening Hungary without adequate collective support.

Hungary relies heavily on affordable Russian gas, and Szijjarto warned that alternative supplies are “more expensive and less reliable,” jeopardizing both energy security and household affordability. He noted that the legal process could last up to two years and implied that the current government’s re-election would be necessary to pursue the case fully. This move follows broader EU efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which has already contributed to significant price increases across the bloc.

The EU’s shift has accelerated imports of U.S. liquefied natural gas, projected to supply nearly half of the bloc by 2030. Russia has consistently criticized Western policies as economically harmful, arguing that costlier alternatives damage European economies. Hungary’s lawsuit underscores persistent divisions within the EU over energy sovereignty and collective decision-making. The court’s ruling will test the legality of the gas ban and may influence future EU strategies on energy security and intergovernmental consensus.