After weeks of bickering over a possible boycott on Russian oil imports, it appears that a special EU summit will not lead to an agreement either. On arrival at the summit, EU leaders were pessimistic about a so-called embargo, designed to hit Russians in the wallet.
Negotiations have been going on at European level for weeks to end imports of Russian oil. But whether they are EU leaders or ambassadors behind the scenes, they just can’t figure it out.
The sleeper has been the same for ages: Hungary. The country is highly dependent on Russian oil and therefore wants guarantees and exemptions so as not to suffer damage from a boycott.
Brussels has already made several proposals that should soften the blow of a possible boycott for Hungary. At the summit, there is a proposal on the table that should ban the import of Russian oil by sea from the beginning of next year. Nothing is said about oil imports via pipelines – sacred for Hungary.
Rutte does not want Dutch companies to be outcompeted
So while much is being done to win over the Hungarians, Orbán also expressed skepticism about the new proposal. He would like to be sure that Hungary can still get oil if the pipeline is suddenly closed.
The proposal was also criticized from unexpected quarters. Prime Minister Mark Rutte emphasized on arrival at the summit that the Netherlands also has interests. He wants to prevent that ports will no longer be able to obtain Russian oil, while other countries still use Russian pipeline oil. Rutte: “We don’t say: we do that well and others can then compete unfairly with Dutch companies.”
It is therefore questionable whether the bickering between the EU countries will result in an agreement this week. “I think it will eventually work out,” says Rutte. “Maybe even today or tomorrow. But we can’t say for sure whether we’ll get out.” The next European summit is not scheduled for the end of June.
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