The EU promises to announce new sanctions against Russia on May 30. But there still can’t be an embargo on an oil treaty
- Jessica Parker
- BBC, Brussels
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On Monday, EU leaders will gather for an extraordinary summit. But, as one diplomat put it, “What are we going to talk about?”
Serious issues related to the war in Ukraine are on the agenda. But it is far from a fact that specialists solve the main ones. We are talking about the ongoing – and unsuccessful – attempts by the EU to ban the import of Russian oil.
Ursula von der Leyen announced her proposals.
“It will be a complete ban on the import of all Russian oil, crude and refined, by sea and through pipelines,” she said at the European Parliamentary.
This was supposed to be followed by an orderly phase-out of Russian oil and oil products by the end of 2022 within six months.
However, the EU’s sixth package of packages, pending the withdrawal of Russian oil, is not yet pending approval – in large part due to the high speed of delivery.
However, the main focus is precisely the position of the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, comparable to the consequences of the Hungarian ban on Russian oil with an atomic bomb. He wrote to the European Council that he did not even want to discuss this issue on assignment.
‘Blood money’
Diplomats are annoyed but admit that with soaring energy prices, some countries will not protest strongly against the import ban.
The hardliners accept that Europe must accept billions of euros called “blood people”.
However, one gets the feeling that Ursula von der Leyen hastened to announce the impending refusal of oil in Russia, without doing research research work.
However, both she and the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, predict this week that an oil deal could take place in the coming days.
It was “foolishness,” one European diplomat remarked: “Charles Michel is dooming the European Council with his own hands.”
There is very little time left before the summit.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, who, as follows from Charles Michel invitationsconnects to the meeting via video link, does not hide dissatisfaction with the delays.
“Of course, I recognize well-known friends who are working on expanded sanctions,” Zelensky said on Thursday. “How do those who block the sixth package get so much power??”
“It’s impossible to avoid debate”
Although the proposals come at the level of ambassadors, not at high-level summits, there may be hope that the European Council will step up and force the issue.
The emergency meeting of the EU Council was scheduled in part because the summit scheduled for June is too much planned – especially in the midst of war across Europe. However, as diplomats say, there is no real need for this meeting, since the issues officially included in its agenda do not cause serious disagreements and are gradually being resolved.
The agenda includes financial support for Ukraine, food security, defense procurement and broader issues of EU energy transformation.
The draft outcome documents, with the BBC’s score, do talk about phasing out Russian fossil fuels. The specific issue of oil sanctions, however, is bypassed.
“Avoiding the debate is pretty unrealistic,” said a senior diplomat.
There is a great chance that someone (at least the same Zelensky) will talk about it. Another thing is whether the discussion turns into a gathering.
Many are annoyed that the lack of consensus on this issue is taken by other measures, because the sixth package is not only about oil.
It includes new restrictions on exports, new personal sanctions, new sanctions against Sberbank, controlled by the Russian state.
Not enough money?
Previous packages included, a phased embargo on Russian coal, the EU countries agreed quickly.
Officials proudly stand up for how the EU dismisses stereotypes of a sluggish and tortuous decision-making process in Brussels on any issue.
Warned Charles Michel that the discussion of the oil embargo “will only highlight our gas differences.” Orban believes that the phase-out of Russian oil is “a complete reorganization of our oil refining capacity.”
In other words, it will be very expensive, which raised the suspicion that Orban is really just putting a price on himself and trying to swindle more money.
MEP Robert Metsola is not without optimism that Hungary is, in fact, in a “negotiating position”.
However, the funds that were allocated for the resonant transformation of the EU will follow from the chest to Hungary, do not yet have access.
It’s all part of a financial tug-of-war between Brussels and Budapest, plus the backdrop is that Orban is bringing democratic institutions closer to the easiest transportation system.
Supporters of the Hungarian premier argue that Hungary is being blamed for going its own way and justifiably resisting a ruinous oil ban without sufficient guarantees from other members of the Council.
For the idea of reducing the oil revenues of the Kremlin, all sorts of others have already been put forward, for example, the discovery of prices or an increase in customs tariffs for Russian oil. The EU says that this option continues to be seriously discussed.
But while it is clear that some countries need more time and support, any new compromise is not without challenges.
The EU ambassadors are going to meet on the eve of the summit. Most believe that the problematic sixth package gets there at some point will still be accepted, but for the coverage of the commission this is not a cause for pride.
From how much his strength “grows”, the European Commission will also suffer reputational damage.
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