FAZ early thinkers: All wear EU

1. Way for oil embargo probably free

2. Federal government in retreat

3. The Donbass offensive is hardly making progress

4. International Press Freedom Day

1. Way clear for oil embargo

Tatyana Heid

Deputy Editor-in-Chief for News and Politics Online.

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After Germany changed course in the debate about an embargo on Russian oil, the EU Commission no longer expects vetoes.

Sanctions package:

 The EU Commission wants to present the sixth sanctions package against Russia to the member states this Tuesday.

If possible, it should be ready by the weekend.

The Commission assumes that Hungary and Slovakia – both countries are considered the last remaining opponents of the oil embargo – will then also be on board, according to Brussels.

You should be able to have a longer transition period.

Period:

 The oil embargo should not apply immediately, but – as demanded by the federal government – ​​in stages.

It was considered likely on Monday that this would last until the end of the year.

According to the commission, a distinction is also made between the affected products – for example between crude oil and refined oil.

Germany:

 According to Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Green Party), a prerequisite for Germany was that German dependence on Russian oil could be reduced from 35 to 12 percent.

"After two months of intensive work on it, I can say that Germany is no longer against an oil embargo," said Habeck.

He called on all EU countries to reduce their dependence on Russian energy as quickly as possible.

Germany has achieved the reduction in dependency primarily through the expiration of contracts.

2. Federal government in cloister

Five months after the swearing-in, the cabinet goes into seclusion.

The focus is on the Ukraine war, and foreign guests are also expected.

Cabinet:

 The federal government comes together for a two-day retreat in Meseberg Castle.

The Ukraine war and the consequences for the economy are on the agenda.

The heads of government of Sweden and Finland, Magdalena Andersson and Sanna Marin, are expected as guests.

Both countries are considering joining NATO.

Opposition:

 The Union also wants to draw consequences from the war of aggression.

"Germany is highly vulnerable militarily and in terms of security policy," says the "Cologne Declaration" on security policy, which the presidencies of the CDU and CSU presented on Monday after a joint meeting.

Both parties spoke out in favor of closer cooperation with France on foreign and security policy, a readjustment of German security policy and the establishment of a National Security Council.