Germany’s Economy Minister warns Europe’s unity on sanctions against Russia is “starting to fall apart”, Germany’s Economy Minister warned as diplomats highlight continued divisions over A package of sanctions will be discussed by member countries on Monday.
Robert Habeck spoke as EU ambassadors meeting in Brussels on Sunday failed to agree on the bloc’s latest package of sanctions against Moscow, including a plan to halt Russian oil imports that Hungary has blocked for weeks. .
Diplomats had hoped to agree on measures with EU leaders, who will begin a two-day summit on Monday.
“After Russia’s attack on Ukraine, we saw what can happen when Europe is united. With a view to tomorrow’s summit, let’s hope it continues like this. But it has already started to collapse and fall again,” Habeck, who is also deputy chancellor, told reporters in Germany on Sunday.
His comments highlighted the EU’s difficulty in finding a way to extend sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine war while not affecting parts of the European economy that are highly dependent on oil supplies and Russian gas.
“Europe remains a huge economic region with incredible economic strength. And when it unites, it can use that power,” Habeck said at the opening of the trade fair.
EU diplomats on Sunday tried to agree on a compromise plan to impose an embargo on Russian seaborne oil purchases and exempt import duties through the pipeline, according to three diplomats. EU. That would include about two-thirds of Europe’s oil imports as Russian oil but avoid letting it flow to Hungary and other countries, including Germany.
A potential solution seen as a way to address concerns about oil supply security has been raised by Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
“The problems are the same, but the way we are trying to solve them is different,” said a senior EU diplomat, which could take weeks. until a final agreement is reached.
EU diplomats are scheduled to meet again on Monday morning ahead of a meeting of the European Council in a last-ditch attempt to avoid a sharp disagreement over the summit.
Some officials worry that different treatment of Russian crude oil deliveries depending on how they join the bloc could cause distortions in the oil market.
An EU diplomat with direct knowledge of the negotiations said: “Many countries have taken the view that this is an economic area so complex that we have to be careful to maintain a level playing field. class. “Legal aspects need to be adjusted, so it could take some time,” the diplomat said.
Among the issues that still need to be worked out are the technical adjustments needed for refineries in Central Europe so they can handle different supplies, as well as build and finance pipelines. substitute oil so that all Russian oil can be embargoed at a later stage.
The sanctions package under discussion is the sixth to be put forward by Brussels since the invasion began in February. The EU has implemented sanctions on coal but still allows countries to continue buying gas from Moscow.
