Hungary and Slovakia to challenge EU plan on Russian energy supplies

Hungary and Slovakia to challenge EU plan to restrict Russian energy supplies

Hungary and Slovakia have officially announced that they will challenge the European Union's plan to ban Russian energy imports. This was announced by the Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Siyarto.

What they say in Budapest and Bratislava

According to Sijjarto, the European Commission's plan to restrict Russian oil and gas poses a direct threat to the energy stability of both countries.

«We are taking this step because the ban on Russian oil and gas imports will make it impossible to secure energy supplies to Hungary and Slovakia and will lead to a sharp rise in prices,» the Foreign Minister said.

Hungary and Slovakia insist that their energy infrastructure is currently critically dependent on Russian pipeline supplies and that a rapid transition to alternative sources is technically impossible.

Reaction in the EU

Brussels stresses that energy sanctions are a key element of strategic pressure on Moscow for its aggression against Ukraine. However, several member states, including Hungary and Slovakia, have repeatedly blocked energy decisions due to their own national interests.

Context.

The EU continues to work on a plan to phase out Russian energy supplies, which includes:

• restrictions on oil imports;

• Reduced gas purchases;

• Increasing investment in renewable energy;

• strengthening the bloc's energy independence.

Hungary has repeatedly used its veto power in matters of sanctions against Russia, citing economic risks.