“This is a very ambitious document that clearly indicates the direction of activities to improve EU energy security” – Bolest pointed out at the meeting of EU energy ministers in Luxembourg. He added that despite the lack of unanimity, support from 25 countries testifies to strong support for the restriction of Russian raw materials.
The Hungarian government – together with Slovakia – argued that further sanctioning of Russian raw materials is a short -sighted and unfavorable approach.
Denmark takes over the rudders
The Minister of Energy Denmark Lars Aagaard, whose country from July 1 will take over the presidency of the EU Council, emphasized that he understood reservations of some countries, but announced a continuation of work on the plan withdrawing Russian gas as one of the key priorities of the Danish presidency. He added that Denmark would try to get a broader support for this proposal in the coming months.
The formal legislative process may start in June, when the European Commission will present a proposal of new regulations assuming a ban on the import of Russian gas. According to the assumptions, short -term contracts are to expire until the end of 2025, and long -term – by the end of 2027, the ban is to cover both gas sent with pipelines and liquefied LNG.
This time, the Commission plans to use the voting procedure by a qualified majority, not unanimously – as it was in the case of sanctions. This means that it is enough to support 15 countries representing at least 65 percent. EU population. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán opposed this approach, recognizing them as a violation of EU treaties and the sovereignty of the Member States.
