BRUSSELS – The Twenty-Seven are considering a sixth package of sanctions against Russia, which includes an embargo against Russian oil limited to sea transport. Instead, there would be a derogation for crude oil that comes via pipelines, in order to meet some countries dependent on Russian fossil fuels, in particular Hungary. The hope is that the package will be unlocked the coming week, marked on Monday and Tuesday by a European summit here in Brussels.
According to information circulated on Sunday 29 May, the proposal now on the table of the Twenty-Seven provides for a distinction between a total ban on Russian imports by sea, in force by the end of the year, and a temporary exemption for oil from the pipeline. Druzhba. The European Council will be briefed on Monday 30 May, and an agreement could come later.
A European official explained that two-thirds of Russian oil reaches Europe by sea: “We are therefore talking about a rather large amount.” The summit on Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 will be “useful” for finding a compromise, he added.
Hungary still not entirely convinced
According to the information gathered here in Brussels this evening, the solution presented by the French presidency of the Union still does not fully convince Hungary, the country that has so far made the most noise against the Russian oil embargo.
In fact, Budapest would also like insurance to respond to any interruptions in oil flows. Other countries, such as the Czech Republic or Slovakia, are also worried about disrupting Russian oil supplies, because they don’t have access to the sea. Moscow exported 720,000 barrels a day of crude oil to Europe through its main oil pipeline in the region; compared to volumes by sea of 1.57 million barrels per day from ports on the Baltic and Black Sea.