Hungary’s government has filed a legal challenge in the European Court of Justice against the decision to use frozen Russian assets to fund military aid for Ukraine, the outlet Portfolio reported.
The lawsuit, brought against the Council of the European Union and the European Peace Facility, was submitted in July and accepted for review on August 25.
Budapest is contesting a decision adopted by the Council in May 2024 that laid the groundwork for using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
At the time, E.U. authorities agreed to transfer nearly all of the income generated by the frozen assets to the European Peace Facility, which then reimburses member states for the cost of supplying military aid to Kyiv.
Hungarian officials argue the move was made without Budapest’s consent, in violation of E.U. approval procedures.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western countries have frozen more than 260 billion euros in Russian assets, the majority — about 190 billion euros — held by the Belgian depository Euroclear.
E.U. member states have repeatedly debated confiscating Russia’s frozen assets outright but have hesitated, citing concerns it could undermine the stability of the euro. The bloc instead agreed to channel profits from the assets to support Ukraine.
Moscow has condemned Western plans to use either the frozen assets themselves or the income they generate.