EU pushes ahead with Russian gas ban despite Hungary lawsuit

The European Union will proceed with enforcing legislation designed to completely end imports of Russian gas by 2027, despite a legal challenge launched by Hungary at the Court of Justice of the European Union seeking to overturn the measure.

European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho confirmed the EU’s position while responding to questions from European Pravda, stressing that the bloc will continue implementing the REPowerEU Regulation, which prohibits Russian gas imports starting in 2027, regardless of Hungary’s lawsuit.

Meanwhile, European Commission energy spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said the Commission is currently awaiting guidance from the EU court on how the legal proceedings will move forward.

“In all cases involving the Court of Justice of the European Union, the processes are led by the Court itself. It is therefore up to them to determine what the next steps will be, what the timeline will be, and how they will decide to move the case forward,” Itkonen said.

She emphasised that the European Commission will firmly defend its stance in court.

“We are awaiting instructions and the next steps from the Court and will act accordingly,” she added.

Earlier reports indicated that the EU’s full phase-out of Russian gas is scheduled for 2027, with the first gas supply contracts to be cancelled beginning on April 25, 2026.

Hungary filed its lawsuit with the Court of Justice of the European Union on February 2, attempting to challenge the REPowerEU Regulation that bans gas imports from Russia.

Slovakia has also announced plans to submit a similar legal challenge against the EU’s ban on Russian energy imports.

By Tamilla Hasanova