The European Commission says it is ready to defend itself against Slovakia’s lawsuit against the RePowerEU regulation
Brussels – The European Commission (EC) is ready to defend the ban on imports of Russian natural gas under the RePowerEU regulation despite lawsuits from Slovakia and Hungary. This was reported on Tuesday at the regular briefing by European Commission spokespersons Paula Pinhová and Anna-Kaisa Itkonenová, TASR recalls.
Anna-Kaisa Itkonenová stated that the EU’s goal “is never to end up in a situation where any of our member states legally challenges our legislation,” but instead the EC wants to cooperate with the member states. The spokesperson acknowledged that the member states have the right to challenge this decision, but the EC plans to defend its position.
“We really stand by this legislation and there is solid legal work behind it, so we are also very confident that we are in a position where we can defend the legislation that the member states have largely supported,” added Paula Pinhová.
The filing of a lawsuit with the Court of Justice of the EU against the RePowerEU regulation on behalf of Slovakia was announced at a Tuesday press conference by Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD). According to him, Slovakia will object on the grounds of violation of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality.
“We will seek to have this regulation declared a regulation that is in conflict with the fundamental principles on which the European Union is based,” said Fico. Hungary intends to file the same lawsuit, having likewise voted against this regulation.
According to the prime minister, it is not possible to file a joint lawsuit and therefore each country will file it separately. “But it is quite normal that we will coordinate the arguments and the reasoning of these lawsuits. That is why there is already now an intensive exchange of information and we will decide in the government on the course of action,” he added.
Fico reiterated his position that this is an ideological decision and an energy suicide of the EU. Deliveries of Russian gas, including by pipeline and under long-term contracts, must, according to the regulation, end no later than November of next year. The prime minister believes that by this deadline the war in Ukraine will end and the decision will be reconsidered. By interrupting supplies, Slovakia finds itself at the end of the gas transit route and, according to the prime minister, it is not certain whether, in the event of a shortage on the markets, the large states will take into account the needs of the smaller states “at the end of the pipe.” (27 January)
“We will seek to have this regulation declared a regulation that is in conflict with the fundamental principles on which the European Union is based.” Robert Fico
