EU dispute over energy embargo - "We finance the war"

Created: 03/24/2022, 19:18

Systems at the Mallnow natural gas compressor station of Gascade Gastransport GmbH.

The compressor station in Mallnow near the German-Polish border primarily accepts Russian natural gas.

© Patrick Pleul/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa

According to critics, countries like Germany are financing the brutal war by importing Russian energy.

So far, however, the EU has not been able to bring itself to an energy embargo.

Brussels - The question of stopping the supply of energy from Russia is splitting the European Union as the Ukraine war progresses.

On the fringes of the EU summit in Brussels, several heads of government called for the sanctions against Russia to be extended to energy imports, i.e. primarily natural gas, coal and oil.

Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin said: "As long as we buy energy from Russia, we are financing the war." One person, however, is still putting the brakes on: Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Scholz said in Brussels that it was a conscious decision by the EU not to include this in the sanctions package, given the very high dependence of some countries on gas, oil and coal from Russia.

The day before, Scholz had said, with a view to ending dependence on Russian energy, that “to do this overnight would mean plunging our country and all of Europe into a recession.

Hundreds of thousands of jobs would be at risk.

Entire branches of industry are on the brink.”

Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer was also clear: "With us there will be no gas embargo and no oil embargo against the Russian Federation." The conservative politician stressed that this was not only unrealistic for Austria.

Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary would also be severely affected.

The energy supply for the people must be guaranteed.

At its summit on Thursday and Friday, the EU wanted to discuss, among other things, how to proceed with regard to the war against Ukraine.

It should be about support, but also about how Russia can be further pressured.

After the NATO and G7 summits, it was the third top meeting of the day in Brussels.

In the evening, US President Joe Biden should also be present as a guest at times.

Hundreds of millions of dollars a day for gas and oil

Around 40 percent of the gas in the EU comes from Russia, as well as 27 percent of the oil imports and 46 percent of the coal imported into the EU.

According to estimates by the Brussels think tank Bruegel, the EU spends around $420 million (€382 million) a day on Russian gas, and just under $400 million (€364 million) on oil from Russia.

The EU has resolved to get rid of Russian energy imports as quickly as possible.

Countries like Poland and the Baltic states are already vehemently demanding that imports of Russian energy be stopped in order to put further pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"It's just money.

If you're still alive and your infrastructure is in order, you can earn the money again," said Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins.

By turning off the money supply to Russia, one could help stop the war machine and start real negotiations to end the war.

He emphasized that Latvia is also heavily dependent on Russian gas and oil.

The Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas also said that the "strongest possible sanctions" should be imposed now.

Bettel: Save any steps for further escalation

Finnish Prime Minister Marin did not want to commit to an energy embargo.

When asked whether an immediate gas supply stop should be part of the EU sanctions, she replied that she was still waiting for an evaluation by the EU Commission.

Finland is ready to do even more with the sanctions.

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, on the other hand, emphasized that steps should also be taken for further escalation.

As an example, he cited the use of chemical weapons in the war in Ukraine.

more on the subject

EU countries are struggling to stay on course in the Russian crisis

west, now what?

NATO, G7 and EU discuss in Brussels

Gas import ban: Ukraine increases pressure on Germany

In order to become less dependent on Russian energy supplies, the EU Commission is currently working on opening up more sources of supply.

Among other things, the authority is in contact with countries such as Qatar, Azerbaijan, Japan and South Korea.

Agency chief Ursula von der Leyen announced on Thursday that the US and the EU will "present a new chapter in our energy partnership" on Friday.

It is about additional deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the USA for the European Union.

dpa