Hungary and Slovakia have declined to endorse an EU proposal to phase out Russian natural gas and oil imports by 2027, as the European Commission prepares to introduce legislation that could move forward without the support of all member states.
Hungary and Slovakia declined to back an EU text on Monday outlining Europe’s plan to phase out reliance on Russian natural gas and oil. The European Commission’s proposal seeks to ban imports of Russian gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the end of 2027. The executive is expected to present the law on Tuesday, which could still proceed without the approval of the two countries.
Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Polish Minister for Climate and Environment, emphasized the importance of energy sovereignty and the need to diversify partnerships, reinforce infrastructure, invest in renewables, and complete the single energy market. “The time to act is now - we keep on learning this the hard way,” she said.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that Hungary vetoed Council conclusions urging the European Commission to advance the plan, citing national competence over energy policy and concerns for sovereignty and energy security. He also referenced the escalation in the Middle East as a factor, saying Hungary proposed no such plan be tabled.
The Polish Presidency clarified that the text is not a formal “Council conclusion” but an “ambitious proposal” to gauge the positions of member states regarding the road map.
European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen indicated that the Commission will introduce a legislative proposal on the ban, citing strong overall support. The Commission may use a legal basis that enables adoption by a reinforced majority—requiring the support of at least 15 of the EU’s 27 countries, representing at least 65% of the population—and a majority in the European Parliament.
Lars Aagaard, Danish Minister for Climate and Energy, said the Danish presidency aims to secure political approval swiftly, with a goal of concluding the legislation before the new year.
The EU has made significant progress in reducing energy imports from Russia since 2021. Russian gas imports declined from 45% in 2021 to 19% in 2024, with a projected further drop to 13% in 2025. Crude oil imports from Russia fell from 27% in 2022 to 3% in 2024. Despite these reductions, Russia continues to supply gas, oil, and nuclear materials to the EU.
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