The European Commission plans to submit a legal proposal on April 15 to permanently ban Russian oil imports. This timing, just after Hungary’s parliamentary election, is meant to avoid influencing the election campaign. Hungary and Slovakia oppose the ban, as they remain reliant on Russian oil. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s party faces significant electoral challenges.
The EU has already restricted seaborne Russian oil imports and aims to establish a complete phase-out that would stay in effect even if sanctions were lifted due to a peace deal in Ukraine. While a Commission spokesperson noted that agendas are not fixed, discussions about the Russian oil ban are ongoing.
Since January 27, shipments of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline have been disrupted after a drone strike impacted the equipment. Both countries blame Ukraine for the ongoing issues, while Ukraine states it is working on repairs.
Orban’s government has previously vetoed EU sanctions against Russia. To address potential opposition from Hungary and Slovakia regarding the ban, the EU may use laws that can be approved by a majority vote of member states. The proposal aims to eliminate Russian oil imports by the end of 2027, following a similar phase-out of Russian gas by that date. Orban characterizes the election choice as one between “war or peace. “
With information from Reuters
