Fitzo Threatens To Sue The EU

It is contesting the rejection of Russian gas.

Slovakia's pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fitzo said that the country will file a lawsuit against the European Union's decision to ban Russian gas imports in the coming days. He specified that the government would also seek a temporary suspension of the decision.

Fitso's statement came in comments to the Reuters news agency on Friday. He said the action would be filed with the Court of Justice of the European Union and criticized the way the decision was made. At issue is a restriction that the EU plans to fully implement by the end of 2027. Slovakia opposes such a move and disputes the procedure of its adoption.

The prime minister emphasized that the government considers the move to be a violation of the EU's basic principles. He said sanctions and foreign policy issues should be adopted unanimously, not by a majority.

Fitso said bluntly that the Slovak government regards the ban as illegal. He said: "This is a clear violation of all the principles on which the European Union treaties are based."

He also emphasized that the decision was taken by qualified majority, which bypassed the objections of Slovakia and Hungary. The main point is that it was the procedure that was one of the key arguments for the lawsuit.

A similar position had already been taken by Hungary, which had previously filed its own lawsuit. Bratislava had said before that it might take a similar step and has now moved to concrete action.

The EU decision envisages a phased withdrawal from Russian gas by the end of 2027. It was backed by a strengthened majority of member states, which allowed the document to be approved despite opposition from individual countries.

Slovakia and Hungary remain among those who continue to receive Russian gas, even amid the EU's overall policy of reducing energy dependence on Russia.

Fizo said the deadline for filing a lawsuit is April 27. It is before that date that the government plans to go to court and in parallel demand interim measures to halt the decision while the case is being heard.

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