The EU’s Oil Embargo on Russia is a Significant Victory

The historic agreement by the European Union to ban the great bulk of Russian oil imports by the end of the year is without a doubt a significant achievement.

Even a few months ago, 27 countries, many of whom have been completely dependent on Russian energy, agreed on a package that will almost surely harm their own economy in favor of Ukraine, a country that isn’t even in the EU, which seemed unimaginable.

However, the agreement has weaknesses that illustrate the limits of European unity and hint at future troubles for the bloc. First and foremost, the agreement excludes oil imported to Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic via the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a key supporter of Vladimir Putin in the EU, began Monday by slamming the EU Commission, calling it “irresponsible” for endangering these countries’ economies. “We have managed to defeat the Commission’s plan to ban the use of oil from Russia in Hungary,” he said in a video message.

One EU leader celebrating the defeat of a key EU institution is, of course, a thorn in the side of those who claim the accord was a victory for European unity.
Ursula von der Leyen, the commission’s president, said the pipeline problem would be revisited, but she gave no timescale.

It’s logical to believe that Europe is still working out how to deal with Russian natural gas given how complex the oil pipeline issue has been. The member nations may also disagree on topics connected to the conflict in Ukraine, whether directly or indirectly. Topics like: Should Ukraine join the European Union? Should the EU’s foreign and defense policies be more aggressive? Should countries like Hungary be able to use their veto to hold the rest of the EU hostage, and how can the EU reform this?

It’s been a long and arduous few days in Brussels, and EU officials may finally breathe a sigh of relief that a deal was reached. But there will be many more disagreements before this crisis is resolved, and the limits of European unity may still be tested.

Advertisement