Orban announces Hungary’s lawsuit against the EU in opposition to phasing out Russian energy plans

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán publicly stated on November 14 that the EU’s decision last month to phase out Russian energy was clearly illegal, and Hungary will formally file a lawsuit with the European Court of Justice.

In an interview with his country’s media, Orban stated bluntly that the decision violated EU values ​​and was essentially Brussels using it as an opportunity to suppress dissenting member state governments. He pointed out the core controversy: the EU changed the approach of requiring unanimous approval for sanctions into a trade policy that only requires a majority vote, a practice without legal basis. It is understood that the 19th round of sanctions against Russia approved by the EU in late October included a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas, with only Hungary and Slovakia explicitly opposing it.

As a landlocked EU country heavily reliant on Russia for energy, Hungary will source 74% of its natural gas and 86% of its oil from Russia in 2024. Viktor Orbán revealed that in addition to litigation, non-legal avenues will be explored to ensure supply, and that he previously reached a private agreement with Trump that Hungary would receive indefinite sanctions exemptions for importing Russian energy as long as Trump remains US president. This lawsuit has further brought the EU’s internal divisions regarding sanctions against Russia into the open.