The EU’s intention to legally phase out the import of Russian gas and energy by the end of 2027 has been met with strong opposition from Slovakia and Hungary, reported Reuters.
This development deepens the divide between Brussels and these member states over their stance towards Moscow.
Go deeper with GlobalData
On Tuesday, the European Commission announced its plans to propose measures that would end the EU’s reliance on Russian gas, oil and nuclear power materials including enriched uranium.
These measures are a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and are part of the EU’s commitment to sever its long-standing energy ties with Russia.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed respect for efforts to reduce dependency on external energy sources but warned that the commission’s proposals could harm the EU by inflating prices and undermining its competitive edge.
Fico was quoted by the news agency as saying: “This is simply economic suicide to go to the point where neither gas, nor nuclear, nor oil, everything must end just because some new Iron Curtain is being built between the Western world and perhaps Russia and other countries.”
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataHe affirmed Slovakia’s commitment to advocate for amendments during the legislative process.
Slovak gas importer SPP echoed these concerns, suggesting that the measures could “have a significantly negative impact on the competitiveness of the business sector of the European Union”.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto also labelled the EU’s plan as “unacceptable”, vowing to “take the strongest possible steps” against the proposal.
“We will fight and challenge this decision,” Szijjarto was quoted as saying by the news agency.
The commission’s legal proposals, expected in June, will need approval from the European Parliament and a qualified majority of member states.
This means that the objections of one or two nations alone cannot halt the plans.
Despite the sanctions imposed on most Russian oil imports, Slovakia and Hungary continue to receive gas through pipelines and have maintained closer relations with Moscow.
They previously clashed with Ukraine over its decision to stop gas flows from the east through its territory. Approximately 19% of Europe’s gas still originates from Russia, a significant drop from the 45% supplied before 2022.
According to Slovakia’s ministry, ten out of the 27 EU member states imported Russian gas last year.
