The ambassadors of the EU member states will meet again on Wednesday, May 11, to agree on the sixth package of sanctions with the oil embargo against Russia against the background of Hungary’s resistance,
KYIV. UkraineGate , 11 , May , 2022 | Political News .
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The European Union’s executive branch is set to support Hungary in building capacity for oil pipelines, storage facilities and refineries, a European Commission spokesman said the day before, amid Budapest’s persistent opposition to Russia’s oil embargo.
Most other EU countries support a ban on Russian oil under a new sixth package of sanctions aimed at punishing Moscow for waging war with Ukraine. However, such a decision requires unanimity, and Hungary is the strongest critic, the publication notes.
At a dinner in Budapest on Monday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed investments in modernizing Hungary’s oil infrastructure, a spokesman for the latter said on Tuesday.
“It is extremely important that we maintain the unity of the European Union when it comes to sanctions against Russia, it is a collective effort,” said spokesman Eric Mamer.
“We hope that the European Union will be able to adopt sanctions as soon as possible,” he added.
Progress has been made in persuading Hungary to lift its veto on the sixth package of sanctions, which calls for the EU to renounce Russian oil, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday night. Von der Leyen said that further work was needed to reach an agreement, and that she would hold a discussion on regional cooperation in the field of oil infrastructure.
Mamer declined to say when the call would take place, adding that preparatory technical work was under way.
French President Emmanuel Macron also spoke with Orban, the Elyée newspaper reported on Tuesday, and the French EU minister said in a statement that an agreement was possible this week.
EU ambassadors are scheduled to meet on the issue in Brussels on Wednesday, but comments from Budapest did not suggest a breakthrough immediately, as Foreign Minister Peter Siyarto said the leaders’ dinner was a “small step forward”, but needed. there is still a lot of work to be done, “the publication notes.
“The adoption of this package of sanctions will undermine our energy security,” he said. “It would be impossible to buy enough oil to support the work of Hungary and the Hungarian economy,” said the Hungarian Foreign Minister.
“Until the European Commission offers a solution to these problems, Hungary obviously cannot support this package of sanctions like an atomic bomb dropped on the Hungarian economy,” he added.
Last week, Orban said Hungary needed “large investments” to modernize the country’s energy system.
Some in Brussels see this as the European Commission’s criticism of Orban’s undermining of the rule of law, which is blocking Hungary’s access to billions of euros earmarked for economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. The European Commission has also recently imposed an unprecedented sanction, the so-called conditionality mechanism for Hungary’s invariably sluggish anti-corruption measures. This could cost Hungary additional EU funds, which is an important factor in its development, the publication notes.
“What Victor Orban’s government is clearly looking for is extra money, slow progress on the terms of the mechanism, or both,” said the Eurointelligence think tank.
Others feared that Orban, who had established close personal ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, was trying to win Moscow’s favor and could delay discussions until the next summit of EU leaders on May 30.
“This would be Orban’s victory,” said one EU diplomat, unhappy with the differences, which expose differences within the bloc and provide food for thought for those who criticize him for inefficiency.
Source: Ukrgate