LUXEMBOURG – Hungary, which is contracted to import Russian gas through to 2036, is considering legal action against an EU ban enforced through the Brussels’ executive sweeping trade powers, the country’s foreign minister said in Luxembourg.
“It’s a big scandal [and] … we have to put into consideration some legal steps,” FM Péter Szijjártó told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of energy ministers. “This is a clear violation of the European Union treaty.”
The ban, which is considered a regular law meaning that it will be adopted with at least a 55% majority of EU countries’ support, has met with stern pushback from Hungary and Slovakia which both say they should be able to veto it.
“Because as a substance, this is a sanction … This is not a trade measure by content,” said Szijjártó in Luxembourg while explaining Budapest’s opposition. As part of foreign policy, when agreeing sanctions “a unanimous decision should be made,” he stressed.
EU countries can challenge any action of the bloc in Luxembourg, where its top court is located.
“The legal basis of our proposal is quite clear,” Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said on Monday in response to Szijjártó’s comments. Russia had shown it “it is not a reliable trading partner” which made it a “clear-cut case” of trade measures, Jørgensen added.
Further support for Brussels came from the Danish presidency. “The question has also been answered by the legal service,” said Lars Aagaard, Denmark’s energy minister chairing EU countries’ negotiations. “If other countries have the resources to do something in the legal system, they are welcome to do so.”
(jp)
UPDATE: This story was updated with further comments.