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Hungary has put forward new demands before the extension of EU sanctions against Russia, demanding the removal of eight people from the blacklist and guarantees for gas transit through Ukraine. Reuters reports this with reference to EU diplomats.
Hungary again uses sanctions as leverage
EU sanctions against Russia are reviewed every six months and require the unanimous support of all 27 member states. Budapest traditionally uses these moments to promote its own interests.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Facebook that the country “will not accept haste” in expanding the sanctions list.
Who does Budapest want to protect?
The EU has two separate sanctions programmes: economic measures and a list of more than 2,400 individuals and companies whose assets are frozen and who are banned from entering the EU.
Diplomats did not disclose the names of those whom Hungary wants to exclude from the list, citing the confidentiality of the negotiations. Hungary’s official representative to the EU also refrained from commenting.
Energy pressure: gas transit through Ukraine
Budapest already blocked sanctions in January, demanding to be included in negotiations on Russian gas transit through Ukraine. Transit stopped on 1 January after the contract between Gazprom and the Ukrainian side expired.
Szijjártó accused the European Commission of failing to fulfil its promise to invite Hungary to the talks between Ukraine and Slovakia on alternative gas supply routes.
Is the EU ready to make concessions?
Representatives of the European Commission said that the talks between Ukraine and Slovakia had been planned in advance, but the EU “is ready to engage Hungary in discussions on alternative sources of supply and gas routes to Europe”.
A final decision on the sanctions package is expected in the coming days. However, Hungary remains the only EU country actively lobbying for the easing of sanctions against Russia, while maintaining close ties with Moscow.
