Brussels, Belgium. The European Commission plans to submit a legal proposal on April 15 to permanently ban Russian oil imports, according to EU officials and a document seen by Reuters. Two EU officials said the timing was intended to keep the oil ban from becoming a major issue in Hungary’s April 12 election campaign.
Timing and political context
The proposal is expected three days after Hungary’s parliamentary election, in which Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his nationalist Fidesz party face their biggest challenge to power in 16 years. Hungary and Slovakia, which remain reliant on Russian oil imports, are strongly opposed to any ban.
From sanctions to permanent legislation
The EU has already imposed sanctions on imports of seaborne Russian oil. It now aims to embed a full phase-out of Russian oil in legislation that would remain in place even if a peace deal in the Ukraine war led to the EU lifting sanctions.
A draft agenda seen by Reuters indicates the Commission plans to propose the ban on April 15, though EU agendas are provisional and the date could still change. A Commission spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Druzhba pipeline disruption and dispute
Shipments of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline have been severed since January 27, when Kyiv said a Russian drone strike hit pipeline equipment in Western Ukraine. Slovakia and Hungary say Ukraine is to blame for the prolonged outage, while Kyiv says it is trying to repair the pipeline.
Vetoes and approval pathway
Orban’s government, which has maintained cordial ties with Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has vetoed new EU sanctions on Russia and a large loan for Kyiv due to the Druzhba pipeline dispute. The European Union is expected to use a law that can be approved by a qualified majority of member states to prevent Hungary and Slovakia from blocking the planned permanent ban.
Phase-out timeline
EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen has said the proposal would phase out Russian oil imports by no later than the end of 2027.
How do you think the EU’s planned legal ban could affect Hungary and Slovakia’s energy supply planning?
