On February 2, speaking at a press conference, Ms. Anna-Kaisa Itkonen - spokeswoman for the European Commission (EC) - gave an official response to the protests from some member states.
She emphasized that the EC has prepared carefully for the upcoming legal battle. "Hungary and Slovakia have every right to challenge this regulation. However, we will defend our views and measures before the court," Ms. Itkonen declared.
On the same day, at another press conference in Madrid, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen also received a similar question. Mr. Jorgensen, who is primarily responsible for building this legal framework, affirmed absolute confidence in the legality of decisions from the EC.
He declared that the regulation banning Russian gas developed under his leadership is "100% legal" and strictly complies with the alliance's treaties.
A tough statement from the EC was made immediately after the move from Budapest. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced on the morning of February 2 that the country had officially filed a lawsuit with the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The lawsuit was aimed at countering the EU's ban on energy supplies from Russia, which Hungary considers a direct threat to national energy security.
This lawsuit marks a new step in tension in the relationship between the EU leadership and member states in Central Europe.
Hungary and Slovakia, two countries bordering the sea, have long been heavily dependent on cheap and stable gas supplies from Russia through a transshipment pipeline system.
Observers believe that the reactions of Budapest and Bratislava are not only political but also stemming from urgent real needs.
Replacing gas from Russia with liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US or other sources requires huge infrastructure investment costs. The cost of new imported energy is also much higher, putting great pressure on the domestic economy and consumers.
While the EC is trying to completely cut off dependence on Moscow's energy as part of a sanctions strategy, countries like Hungary believe that this policy is causing adverse damage to its own members.
Hungary and Slovakia's decision to bring the case to the bloc's Supreme Court shows deep division within the EU. This legal battle is expected to be lengthy and complex, raising a big question about the EC's power limits in imposing energy policies on each member state.
