EU to ban Russian gas despite Hungary, Slovakia pushback

Dissent From Hungary and Slovakia Stands Alone
Hungary and Slovakia vetoed a joint EU Council statement on the proposal, supported by 25 other member states, agreed that day. But their attempt is at risk of being thwarted as the EU is set to rubber-stamp the ban with "reinforced majority" procedures. This entails the support of at least 15 member states representing 65% of the EU population, avoiding the obligation of unanimous approval that was previously mandatory for energy-related sanctions.

The plan was swiftly rejected by Hungary's Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, who said it damages national sovereignty and energy security. Slovakia also said it would object. Both countries, whose leaders — Viktor Orbán in Budapest and Robert Fico in Bratislava — are aligned with Moscow, have kept importing Russian oil and had opposed previous sanctions on the Russian energy sector.

EU Officials Stress Long-Term Energy Security
EU leaders stand firm despite objections. The joint statement was proposed by Polish officials, who emphasized that the move had a strong majority supporting it. "Buying fossil fuels from Russia is simply fueling the flames," said Poland's Climate Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska, about Russia's military build-up that is in part financed by fossil fuel revenues. The European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, said the proposed ban provides a more lasting solution than traditional sanctions, which need to be reapproved after a certain period.

Jørgensen also stressed that the EU should not resume using Russian gas even when peace is restored, or it will "fill up the coffers" of the Kremlin. Selling energy now is providing about a third of Russia's federal revenue and enabling a huge boost in defence spending.