PM: Hungary opposes EU’s Russian energy ban but can’t block it

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said that Hungary will not support the European Commission’s proposed plan to phase out Russian energy imports, but acknowledged that Budapest cannot prevent its adoption if it is approved by a qualified majority within the EU.

Orbán said the proposal to gradually eliminate gas, oil, and nuclear fuel imports from Russia could be passed without unanimous agreement, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media. 

“They can adopt it by qualified majority,” he noted. 

He criticised the Commission’s initiative as being politically motivated against Hungary, citing his government’s opposition to Ukraine’s accession to the EU as a source of growing friction with other member states.

“We are in opposition to the majority,” he said. 

The Hungarian leader also warned that the plan could have severe economic consequences for Hungarian consumers, predicting a sharp rise in energy costs. 

“If energy prices increase due to a ban on Russian gas, Hungary would have to pay 800 billion forints — roughly 2 billion euros — more each year,” Orbán said, adding that such a cost would strain household budgets across the country.

At the same time, Orbán believes that Hungary has allies within the EU who also oppose the European Commission’s proposal. 

Notably, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has described the Brussels plan as “economic suicide” for Europe. Orbán expects a fierce political battle to unfold within the EU over the proposal in the coming months.

By Naila Huseynova