According to information from the German Press Agency, the draft initially only allows the import of oil transported by ship to be phased out. Oil transported via the huge Druzhba pipeline would therefore be exempt from the embargo until further notice.
This could allow Russia to part of its dealings with companies in the EU continue. To EUAccording to the latest information, around a third of the total delivery volume flowed through the Druzhba pipeline. This supplies refineries in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic as well as in Poland and Germany.
It was initially unclear whether the compromise proposal presented at the weekend had any prospects of success. Late on Sunday afternoon, the permanent representatives of the EU– States come together in Brussels for initial consultations.
This Monday and Tuesday, the compromise proposal should also be an issue at a summit meeting of heads of state and government in the Belgian capital. This should be about the further support of the EU for Ukraine, but also about efforts to become independent of Russian energy sources such as gas and oil.
Austria wants to support the oil embargo
Austria and Germany want to support the oil embargo. According to its own statements, the Alpine republic has been doing without Russian oil since March.
Germany is working on a drastic reduction in Russian oil imports
The current developments in Germany are likely to EU– Negotiations therefore have little effect. Although a lot of Russian oil is still flowing to East Germany via the Druzhba pipeline, the German government is making efforts regardless of what is planned EU-Oil embargo a drastic reduction in imports. Russian oil imports to Germany should already be halved by the middle of the year, and by the end of the year the aim is to be almost independent.
Hungary is against it
About the plans for a ban on imports of Russian oil are in the EU There has been a dispute for weeks because Hungary has so far not been willing to support the project. The country justifies this with its high dependence on Russian oil supplies and the high costs of switching to other suppliers. Hungary will only agree to an embargo if it is approved by the EU billions in aid or far-reaching special rules.
The original proposal EUThe commission planned to stop imports of Russian crude oil in six months and oil products in eight months because of the Ukraine war. Hungary and Slovakia should be given 20 months. So far, the Hungarian government has not been able to convince the Hungarian government to offer improvements.
According to information from the German Press Agency, the most recent compromise proposal no longer envisages a transport ban for oil. In addition, it should also continue to be possible to insure transport. Greece, Cyprus and Malta had argued that such regulations threatened the existence of shipping companies.
Source: Nachrichten
