Hungarian PM Orban intends to file appeal against EU over plans to ban gas imports from Russia

BRUSSELS. Nov 14 (Interfax) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban intends to appeal to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over the European Union's plans to phase out gas imports from Russia by the end of 2027, the Euractiv European news website reported on Friday.

"We do not support this obviously illegal decision counter to European values and taken by Brussels to circumvent national authorities that do not agree. We will appeal to the ECJ," Orban said.

Euractiv said that Hungary remains significantly dependent on energy imports from Russia. Budapest previously vetoed European sanctions initiatives against the Russian energy sector.

Hungary could take legal action against the EU over its intention to frame the ban on Russian gas as a trade measure rather than a sanctions measure.

The ban on Russian gas imports was considered a regular law, meaning it would be passed if supported by at least 55% of the bloc's countries, with unanimity not required. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto previously said that the ban was essentially a sanctions measure, not a trade measure, and that the decision must be unanimous when the EU decides to impose sanctions.

The EU Council said on October 20 that it had agreed on a position for negotiations with the European Parliament on a draft regulation phasing out Russian natural gas imports. The European Parliament supported the decision to open negotiations with the Danish Presidency of the EU Council.