Hungarian government lashes out against EU’s planned ban on Russian gas supplies

Despite Hungary’s fierce opposition, the Council of the European Union approved a proposal to end Russian energy imports. From 1 January, no EU member state will be allowed to import Russian gas, with the ban extending to Russian liquefied and piped natural gas from 1 January 2028. Naturally, the Hungarian government is incensed, warning that the ban will wreck Hungary’s energy security, erase diversification efforts, and destroy the much-touted utility price protection scheme.

Hungary will prevent the adoption of the REPowerEU proposal

Hungary will use all political and legal means to prevent the adoption of the REPowerEU proposal aimed at banning Russian energy imports, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in Luxembourg on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference after the EU Foreign Affairs and Energy Affairs Council meeting, Szijjártó said the proposal to ban Russian energy imports had no energy, security or economic reasons, only political and ideological reasons, the Hungarian News Agency wrote.

• Hungary is heavily dependent on Russian energy, but public ignorance about the issue is immense

He complained that “several participants clearly stated that political and ideological aspects should be given priority over reality.” “And no one in the European Commission or here in Luxembourg cares what impact this proposal has on the security of energy supply,” he said.

Violation of EU law

Szijjártó also warned that the package would be pushed through in open, gross violation of EU law, since it is actually a sanction, and thus a unanimous decision would be required, a qualified majority would not be enough.