Hungary threatens ‘legal steps’ against European Commission over Russian gas ban

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  1. Just-Sale-7015 on

    The gist of the dispute/threat:

    >“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.

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