The EU is trying to find a common position for an import ban on Russian oil – resistance comes from Hungary. The EU foreign policy representative does not see a quick breakthrough. Annalena Baerbock does.
According to Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, the European dispute over the planned oil embargo against Russia will be settled in the near future.
“In the next few days we will come to a common result – I am very confident about that,” said the Green politician on Monday on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. “In these times we as Europeans stand together as closely as I have never experienced before, despite all the differences.”
Baerbock also made it clear that she thinks an oil embargo without Hungary and other critical countries is a very bad idea. “It is important that all countries can go the way of the exit together,” said the Green politician. You shouldn’t let yourself be split a millimeter.
Borrell does not see a quick solution
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has warned of hopes of a quick breakthrough in negotiations on an oil embargo against Russia. “We are doing our best to lift the blockade,” said the Spaniard at a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, referring to Hungary’s resistance to the planned import ban on Russian oil. Since there are “rather fixed positions”, he cannot guarantee that this will succeed in the discussions.
There has been a dispute in the EU for more than a week about the plans for an oil embargo against Russia presented by the EU Commission because Hungary is unwilling 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 only wants to agree to an embargo if it receives billions in aid or far-reaching exemptions from the EU.
Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis raised serious allegations against the government in Hungary on Monday in Brussels. “The whole Union is being held hostage by a member state,” he criticized.
The negotiations between the EU countries about an oil embargo were supposed to be completed more than a week ago. The EU Commission’s original proposal was to end 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, offers of improvement have not been able to persuade Hungary to give up the blockade.
Source: Stern
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