The bill for a permanent ban on the supply of Russian oil to the European Union has been postponed, primarily due to rising fuel prices caused by the war in the Middle East.
The European Commission has postponed the presentation of the long-awaited proposal for a permanent ban on the import of Russian oil.
The fact is that the war in the Middle East continues to cause upheavals in the energy market, keeping the price of Brent crude oil above $100 per barrel. We must not forget the tense standoff with Hungary and Slovakia (two EU member states that still purchase Russian oil) over the Soviet pipeline "Druzhba."
The bill, part of the REPowerEU roadmap, was initially scheduled to be presented on April 15, but this event has now been removed from the calendar.
"I cannot name a new date," said Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, a representative of the Commission on Energy, on Tuesday. "I can only assure you that we still intend to submit this proposal."
The postponement was influenced by the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, disrupting energy markets and leading to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—a vital artery through which 1/5 of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas was still transported daily.
On Monday, the U.S. president welcomed "productive negotiations" with Iran regarding the cessation of the war. And although this statement was immediately contested by Tehran, Trump's words led to a decrease in the price of Brent crude oil from $112 to $102 per barrel.
In an attempt to calm the anxious markets, the U.S. eased sanctions on Russian oil, which caused outrage and discontent among Europeans.
At the same time, the European Commission insists that the change in timing does not mean a change in policy: "The proposal will be made," Itkonen clarified.
Quoting Ursula von der Leyen, the spokesperson for the European Commission warned that a return to Russian fossil fuels after the end of the war in Ukraine would be a "strategic mistake."
Hungarian-Slovak Opposition
Earlier, the EU banned the supply of Russian oil as part of a sanctions regime that must be renewed every six months on a unanimous basis. Hungary and Slovakia enjoy a permanent exemption from these sanctions, allowing them to continue purchases.
The postponed bill is viewed as an energy issue rather than a foreign policy one, so only a qualified majority is required for its approval. Brussels believes that a permanent ban will prevent a veto in the future and close remaining loopholes.
As part of the REPowerEU program, the European Union has already banned the import of Russian "blue fuel": liquefied natural gas (LNG) until the end of 2026 and pipeline gas until the fall of 2027.
Hungary and Slovakia have filed lawsuits against the gas ban and threatened to do the same if Brussels pushes the proposal on oil.
The two landlocked countries are currently embroiled in a bitter dispute with Ukraine over the "Druzhba" pipeline, through which cheap Russian oil is transported through Ukrainian territory to Central Europe.
Kyiv claims that the infrastructure was severely damaged by Russia at the end of January and must be restored for transit to resume. But Budapest and Bratislava contest this argument, claiming that the pipeline is closed for "political reasons" ahead of the elections in Hungary on April 12.
