Germany hopes, but Hungary remains skeptical as EU countries try to agree on oil sanctions against Russia. A possible compromise is on today’s summit table – but the details are far from clear.
The EU’s 27 heads of state and government will meet for another extra summit in Brussels on Monday and Tuesday. All the items on the agenda have in one way or another something to do with the war in Ukraine.
The most difficult thing will be to agree on the sixth sanction package against Russia, which the European Commission presented just over three weeks ago.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is nevertheless optimistic that it will be possible to find a solution.
– Everyone discusses in a constructive way, and there are talks with a will to agree, and that is good, says Scholz on the way to the meeting.
He emphasizes that the important thing now is that the EU can adhere to the unity that has characterized the decisions since Russia attacked Ukraine.
Ahead of the summit in Brussels, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (S) informed the Riksdag’s EU Committee about the situation.
– The government will push for us to be able to take as comprehensive a new sanction package as possible, she says.
Temporary exception
A new draft of conclusions read by TT states that the new sanctions package against Russia will cover both crude oil and petroleum products, but that a temporary exception will be made for deliveries via pipeline.
The latter is a concession for countries such as Hungary to agree to sanctions. But countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Croatia have also objected, due to their dependence on Russian oil.
However, the EU ambassadors, who have met frequently and long ago to tie the knots ahead of the summit, have not succeeded in resolving the question of how long the exemption should apply. The sensitive issue remains to be resolved.
– We are not there yet, but it has matured. My expectations are low that it will be resolved within the next 48 hours, but I have high hopes that it will happen thereafter, says European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on her way to the summit.
Hungary: Not good
According to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, there is definitely no solution in place yet.
– There is no compromise right now. The proposal we have received is not good. We are ready to give our support to package six if we get a solution in terms of energy security for deliveries to Hungary, says Orbán on his way to the summit.
He is sharply critical of the European Commission, which he accuses of going too fast with the oil proposal.
– Out of nowhere came an idea of embargo and sanctions on oil. The whole situation is difficult, caused by the Commission and the responsibility for the fact that there is no solution lies with them, says Orbán in Brussels.
Threatened agreement
So far, EU countries have managed to show unanimity in their actions against Russia following the attack on Ukraine on 24 February. But with each new sanction package, it becomes increasingly difficult to agree. And when a sixth sanction package is now on the table, the agreement threatens to crack.
Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (S) in the EU Committee ahead of a previous EU summit in March. Stock Photography. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer / TT
– We are open to stopping all forms of import of Russian fossil fuels, but as we know, there are member countries that are very dependent on oil, says Andersson, about Sweden’s line.
She adds that the compromise proposal would also have a good effect as a sanction against Russia. Just over two thirds of Russian oil comes by boat to the EU, and would therefore be covered by the sanctions.
The EU summit will also decide on a new nine billion euro financial support package for Ukraine.
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