On Monday 27 January, Hungary agreed to the extension of economic sanctions against Russia.
The EU Council was therefore able to renew the measures for an additional six months, until 31 July 2025. These economic measures, first introduced in 2014, have been considerably extended since February 2022 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
These sanctions include restrictions on trade, finance, energy, technology and dual-use goods, industry, transport and luxury goods. “These sanctions have deprived (Vladimir) Putin’s regime of €400 billion, in other words the equivalent of three years’ funding for his war effort”, recalled French Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.
In exchange for its agreement, Budapest obtained a statement from the EU and the High Representative regarding energy (see EUROPE 13565/5), while the agreement on the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine ended (see EUROPE 13551/13).
In this statement, the Commission and the High Representative reiterate that the integrity of the energy infrastructures supplying EU Member States is a matter of “security” for the EU. “The Commission expects all third countries to respect this and is ready to take measures to protect critical energy infrastructure”, it specifies.
The Commission and the EU Member States are promising to help repair, connect and stabilise Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. “The Commission is ready to continue discussions with Ukraine on the supply to Europe through the gas pipeline system in Ukraine in line with Ukraine’s international obligations. In that context, the Commission is ready to associate Hungary in the process (along with Slovakia)”, adds the statement, which also specifies that the Commission will contact Ukraine to seek assurances regarding the maintenance of pipeline transfers to the EU.
Asked about the value of this statement, which was considered vague, the High Representative explained that “it meant something to Hungary so that mattered”.
On X, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Péter Szijjártó, considered that his country had received the guarantees it had requested concerning its energy security.
See the statement: https://aeur.eu/f/f97 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)