The 27 countries of the European Union (EU) analyzed this Sunday a proposal to unblock the sixth package of sanctions against Russiawhose main measure is an embargo of Petroleum by the end of the year, according to European sources.
This proposal advanced by the European institutions and Francewhich holds the rotating presidency of the EU, foresees an embargo on Russian oil supplied by ship by the end of the year, excluding “for now” that which is delivered via the Droujba pipelinewhich supplies Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, indicated Commission sources.
“The Droujba issue will be taken up again quickly,” a European source said.
Hungary, a landlocked country, blocks the new sanctions as it relies on the russia oil through the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies 65% of its consumption.
The initial EU proposal included a special derogation for Hungary Y Slovakiauntil the end of 2023.
However, both countries considered that the period was insufficient and demanded at least four years, in a demand to which was also added the Czech Republic.
To adopt the sanctions, the unanimity of the 27 member countries is necessary.
Hungary also requests some 800 million euros in European financing to adapt its refineries.
But it seems difficult for them to provide European funds, when the recovery plan post covid from Hungary remains blocked by the EU for breaches of rights.
“Less painful” for Russia?
The solution being discussed in Brussels on Sunday would be to exclude Druzhba from the oil embargo to limit sanctions on oil supplies by ship, according to European sources.
Two-thirds of supplies russian oil to the EU are transported in tankers and a third through this pipeline.
The proposal would allow the sixth battery of EU sanctions, which have been under discussion since early May, to go ahead.
This embargo the cessation of deliveries by sea would imply that of oil purchases within six months and petroleum products at the end of the year.
The sanctions package also proposes the exclusion of the most important Russian bank, Sberkank (37% of the market), and two other banking establishments from the international financial system Swiftas well as an extension of the EU blacklist to around sixty personalities.
Another option being considered would be to postpone the adoption of the entire sanctions package while a solution is found for the oil supply to Hungary, according to the same sources.
“A limited embargo that would exclude pipelines would be much less painful for Russia, as finding new customers supplied by tankers is less difficult,” said Thomas Pellerin-Carlin of the Jacques Delors Institute.
Europeans fear lack of agreement
The heads of state will meet on Monday and Tuesday in Brussels.
Europeans fear that lack of agreement on new sanctions will cast a shadow over that meeting
And more when the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will intervene at the beginning of the summit by videoconference and that Ukraine pressures Westerners to “kill Russian exports” after three months of offensive.
Slovakia and the Czech Republic, which receive oil through the Droujba pipeline, have agreed to respective derogations of two and a year and a half, according to diplomatic sources.
For the EU, which seeks to stop financing the Kremlin’s war effort, the import bill for russian oil (80,000 million euros) was four times larger than that of gas in 2021.
The sanctions package also proposes the exclusion of the most important Russian bank, Sberkank (37% of the market), and two other banking establishments from the international financial system Swiftas well as an extension of the EU blacklist to around sixty personalities.
The solutions presented on Sunday to the ambassadors of the EU member countries must still have the endorsement of their leaders, with the hope of obtaining an agreement before the start of the summit on Monday at 4:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. GMT).