Hungary has negotiated an exemption for Russian oil.
(Photo: AP)
The patience of the EU partners in dealing with Hungary is as limitless as it is amazing. In countless meetings, Viktor Orban’s people blocked an agreement on an oil embargo against Russia.
The reactions to this were characterized by a lot of understanding: Hungary has no port through which it could import oil. Cutting off the country’s petrol supply over the heads of Hungarian motorists is unfair.
The price of this patience: The negotiations dragged on endlessly and in the end there was an embargo that has large gaps.
Patience should now be over for the latest turn of events in Budapest: After the negotiations were actually concluded, Hungary suddenly stood up for the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill. He sees his task as providing a metaphysical superstructure for Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, which legitimizes any warfare, no matter how cruel, as a godly heroic act.
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.
Orban is blocking the sanctions against Kirill, showing that he does not care about EU unity. That’s annoying – and Brussels should now draw the consequences: In any case, the EU has been making decisions for decades that are clear that they are not supported by all states.
>> Read here: EU countries agree on an oil embargo against Russia – but not a complete one
Britain had a number of exemptions, not all wanted to adopt the euro and Denmark is only just beginning to lift its 30-year opt-out from European defense policy.
Unanimity is not absolutely necessary for sanctions either. Weakening the Russian economy also works if only 26 of the 27 EU countries participate. In the greatest need, the 26 would agree that each of them would issue identical sanctions. It would be a shame. But it would be much better than letting a single populist hold him back on Russia policy.
More: Analysts warn of the unwanted side effects of the oil embargo