The European Commission will submit a legislative proposal for a permanent ban on Russian oil imports on 15 April – three days after Hungary’s parliamentary elections, according to EU officials and a document seen by Reuters.
Two EU officials told the agency that the timing was designed to ensure that the oil ban would not become a major factor in Hungary’s election campaign. Hungary and Slovakia, which still depend on Russian oil imports, are strongly opposed to any ban.
The Commission plans to propose a ban on Russian oil on 15 April, according to a draft agenda seen by Reuters. The EU agenda is preliminary and the date could still change.
The European Commission and Hungary did not comment on the announcement to reporters.
The EU is expected to circumvent any attempts by Hungary and Slovakia to block a planned permanent ban on Russian oil imports by using a law that can be approved by a qualified majority of member states.
EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said the proposal would lead to a phase-out of Russian oil imports by the end of 2027 at the latest. Until the final quarter of last year, the EU imported only 1 per cent of its oil from Russia, mainly due to the bloc’s sanctions on offshore supplies of Russian crude.
Last month, the EU legislated a complete phase-out of Russian gas by the end of 2027. Hungary and Slovakia have vowed to appeal the law in court.
Slovakia and Hungary are blocking approval of a 20th package of sanctions against Russia and a multibillion-dollar loan to Ukraine that EU leaders agreed to at a summit in December. The two countries pledge to maintain their veto until the transport of Russian crude through the Druzhba oil pipeline resumes.
The EU has banned the purchase of Russian oil since the full-scale invasion began. For Hungary, Slovakia and Austria, Austria was able to diversify its suppliers. made a postponement as for states that do not have access to the sea, i.e. cannot receive oil tankers from other countries and are dependent on the Druzhba pipeline.
The Druzhba oil pipeline – transiting through Ukraine – ensures the transport of Russian oil to Europe, in particular to Hungary and Slovakia.
According to a study by Finland’s Centre for Energy and Clean Air Research (CREA) and Bulgaria’s Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD), imports of Russian crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia have generated €5.4 billion in revenue for the Kremlin since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine during the 2022-2024 period. This is equivalent to the cost of 1,800 Iskander-M ballistic missiles