France: EU deal to ban Russian oil imports likely to emerge this week

EU countries are likely to reach an agreement this week on the European Commission’s proposal to ban oil imports from Russia, French Foreign Minister Clement Bonn said today.

“I think we can reach an agreement this week,” Bonn told LCI television, adding that French President Emmanuel Macron would hold talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban later today.

The commission last week proposed the toughest sanctions package to date against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine, but several countries opposed it, worrying about the impact of the embargo on Russian oil imports.

Some Eastern European countries, members of the EU, are worried that a freeze on imports will not give them enough time to adjust, although diplomats have said Hungary and Slovakia will have time by the end of 2023.

Hungary is the fiercest opponent of this planned embargo.

However, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that she had made progress in her talks with Orban on the issue.

SOURCE: AMPE

Source: Capital

You may also like