Politico: EU eyes new Russia sanctions push as Hungary’s presidency nears end
EU sanctions against Russia stalled under Hungary's leadership, Poland aims to revive discussions when it assumes the EU presidency in January.
The European Union is gearing up to revive discussions on strengthening sanctions against Russia once Hungary’s presidency comes to an end in January 2025, according to a report by Politico.
According to Politico, Krzysztof Bolesta, Poland’s minister for climate and the environment, expressed concern over the growing imports of Russian energy at a recent meeting in Luxembourg.
“This is a bad sign. We need to address that,” Bolesta stated.
A senior EU diplomat, speaking anonymously to Politico, criticized the Hungarian presidency as “disastrous” and expressed hope that issues blocked by Hungary would be addressed with urgency under new leadership.
The focus is expected to shift towards refining existing restrictions rather than introducing entirely new measures. David O’Sullivan, the EU’s top diplomat on sanctions, has indicated that discussions may include extending sanctions to EU companies’ foreign subsidiaries – the so-called no-Russia clause.
Poland is also pushing for greater transparency on Russian fossil fuel imports into the EU. The document, obtained by Politico, advocates for stricter checks on the origin of gas entering the EU to ensure full traceability and transparency.
However, challenges remain. Any new sanctions would still require unanimity among EU members, with Hungary likely to continue wielding its veto power. The European Commission also needs to propose new measures before member states can discuss them.
At a recent meeting of European leaders, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, member states committed to “further limit Russia’s ability to wage war, including by further sanctions.“
Related:
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