EU countries’ foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday – the focus will be on the latest developments in the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is expected as a guest. The meeting has been overshadowed by the ongoing dispute within the EU over an import ban on Russian oil.
The oil embargo is a point of contention within the European community: Hungary refuses to support the sanctions. It is highly dependent on Russian oil, dependence on other suppliers is expensive. Hungary could only imagine agreeing to an embargo if it receives billions in aid or far-reaching exemptions from the EU. However, the other EU Member States benefit little from this proposal.
Schallenberg against public discussion about embargo
Alexander Schallenberg was confident that an agreement would be reached “within days” on a sixth package of sanctions against Russia. A “certain need for discussion” is “very clear” and not all states are equally affected, Schallenberg said on the margins of the meeting. At the same time, he criticized the public discussion about it and urged unity in the EU.
“The debate should be held where it should be, namely behind closed doors in the Council and we will go public when we have an agreement.” A “joint action” and “unity” of the EU states are “the essence” for Schallenberg, which has been “successful so far”.
Hungary maintains veto despite concessions
In fact, the negotiations on the import ban should have been concluded more than a week ago. The European Commission plans to halt imports of Russian crude oil within six months and imports of oil products in eight months due to the invasion of Ukraine. Hungary and Slovakia should even be given 20 months to switch. Despite further concessions, Hungary does not want to support this measure.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
