Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has repeatedly been on a collision course with Brussels. And now it is happening again. This time it is the EU's desire for an oil embargo against Russia that separates Budapest and Brussels. On Monday, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, made a sensational trip to Hungary to meet directly with Orban. But the meeting did not lead to a breakthrough.
- Von der Leyen went to Hungary to listen and to look for solutions together with Viktor Orban. The goal was to find solutions to Hungary's legitimate concerns regarding the country's oil supply, a spokesman for the European Commission said on Tuesday.
As part of the sixth package of sanctions against Russia, the EU wants a phase-out of crude oil within six months. As well as a phase-out of refined oil products from Russia within nine months. Orban has rejected this. He points out that Hungary, unlike many other EU countries, has no ports. At the same time, Hungary gets its oil delivered - primarily from Russia - through pipelines. Therefore, according to Orban, a much longer phasing-in is needed.
- The EU Commission recognizes that Hungary is in a very special situation, which requires us to find very specific solutions, says a spokesperson for the EU Commission.
The statement and von der Leyen's visit emphasize that the EU Commission has chosen not to engage in a new open confrontation with Orban. It will also be difficult in a situation where the EU countries must agree on the sanctions. This means that Hungary effectively has a veto over the sixth sanctions package.
Wants a longer transition period
Orban has asked for a transition of four to five years to give Hungary the opportunity to find alternatives to Russian oil. This will be a significant break with the EU Commission's proposal for the sixth sanctions package. If this becomes reality, EU countries will for the first time move at very different paces in relation to sanctions against Russia. And it may open the way for similar reservations from other countries, if the EU, for example, next wants to start sanctions against Russian gas.
The expectation is that the next step will be a digital meeting between Orban, von der Leyen and key EU leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron. But according to the EU Commission, that meeting will only take place when the technical issues have progressed further, so that there is a basis for achieving a result.
Tuesday marks one week since the EU Commission presented its proposal for a sanctions package. This underlines how difficult the negotiations have been.
However, the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said on Tuesday that he expects an agreement this week. If that does not happen, the EU foreign ministers are expected to be called to an extraordinary meeting to find a solution. It could happen at the beginning of next week.
Ritzau
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