War in Ukraine: Bulgaria threatens to veto EU embargo on Russian oil if not excluded

Her government Of Bulgaria will not support the Sixth package of European Union sanctions on Russia if it does not secure its exclusion from proposed embargo on Russian oilthe Deputy Prime Minister of the Bulgarian Government stated late Sunday, Assen Vasilev.

The governments of the 27 came a little closer to the agreement to impose even tougher sanctions in Russia because of her invasion of Ukraine. They are planning new talks today to look into how will the countries that are most dependent on Russian oil exports cope?

“The talks will continue tomorrow and the day after tomorrow (today Monday and tomorrow Tuesday), a meeting of leaders may be needed to conclude. Our position is very clear. If there can be an exception for some of the countries, we want an exception too “ said Vasilev on the public television network BNT.

Otherwise “we will not support sanctions. But I do not expect to get there, based on where the talks are at the moment, “he added.

THE Hungarythe Slovakia and the Czech republicwhere are heavily dependent on Russian crude, which reaches them through pipelines of the Soviet era, will find it difficult to find alternative imgs of supply and seek exemption from the embargo, as does Bulgaria.

The European Commission on Friday proposed some modifications to the initially proposed embargo to give more time to the first countries, but no concessions were offered to Bulgariaaccording to European imgs.

However, Vassilev insisted that Sofia also needed an exemption, as its only refinery in Burgas needed time to be upgraded to process other types of crude than Russian, especially in the desulphurisation process.

The Burgas refinery – owned by Russia’s Lukoil – is the main market supplier in the poorest of the 27 countries. Today, about half of the crude refined comes from Russia.

If it does not provide an exception, Bulgaria, according to the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency, will face environmental risks in Burgas and / or the refinery will be forced to reduce production, causing market shortages and further price increases, he argued. Vasilef.

Borrell: Seizure of Russian funds for the reconstruction of Ukraine

The governments of the member states of the European Union should consider the possibility of nseize Russia’s foreign exchange reserves and other reimgs in their jurisdiction, which are frozen, to cover the cost of reconstruction of Ukraineafter the war, argued the head of European diplomacy, o Josep Borrellduring an interview with the Financial Times.

Source: News Beast

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