No final agreement on the 6th package of sanctions against Russia was reached at today's talks at member state ambassador level, but significant progress has been made on most of the sanctions package and talks will continue at all levels, according to EU sources.
"The Council is united on the need to adopt the 6th package of sanctions," sources from the European Commission and the French EU Presidency jointly point out. "There is still a job to be done to complete, in a spirit of solidarity, the guarantees necessary for the conditions of oil supply to member states that are currently in a very specific situation regarding the supply from a Russian oil pipeline," the same sources add, stressing: "Contacts at all levels will continue at the beginning of the week with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement on the 6th sanctions package as soon as possible."
It is noted that the biggest "brake" on reaching an agreement on the 6th sanctions package is the issue of Hungary and Slovakia, which are supplied with oil only through a pipeline from Russia. According to reports, Hungary is still not satisfied with the two additional years (until the end of 2024) that have been proposed for the total embargo on Russian oil. Slovakia and the Czech Republic seem to be asking for a similar extension. Moreover, more than a few EU member states are asking for guarantees from the European Commission for their energy security.
Finally, it is recalled that the initial objective was for the 6th package of sanctions to enter into force on 9 May, which does not seem to be achieved before 10 May when the Permanent Representatives of the EU Member States (COREPER) will meet again.
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