EU: European Council under high tension, new sanctions against Russia on the table

Emmanuel Macron is going to Brussels this Monday, May 30, in the afternoon (Illustration image).

AFP - KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

Text by: RFI Follow

3 mins

It is an extraordinary European Council under tension which is being held this Monday, May 30.

It will discuss emergency aid to Ukraine, and the reconstruction of the country.

But also EU defense capabilities, food security with an intervention by AU President Macky Sall on Tuesday, and energy.

Emmanuel Macron is going this Monday, May 30, in the afternoon, to Brussels.  

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The European Union's ambition is clear: to take the

in supporting Ukraine, whether in terms of emergency aid or longer-term reconstruction, says

,

.

This extraordinary summit will therefore allow the leaders to discuss in particular the Commission's proposal to grant a loan of 9 billion euros to Ukraine.

It is a loan and not a donation so as not to send a negative signal to the markets about a country which continues, despite the war, to honor its debts, we explain at the Elysée.

►Also read: EU: climate activists demonstrate for an embargo on Russian gas and oil

But this summit must also make it possible to move forward on sensitive subjects:

, food security jeopardized by the cessation of

exports or the reconstitution of European armament stocks.

On this question, the entourage of Emmanuel Macron is delighted that the ideas defended by France are progressing, in particular on the pooling of purchases.

France holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union until June, so time is running out for Emmanuel Macron who made an impression immediately after his re-election by proposing in Strasbourg on May 9 the creation of a "

 " open to Ukraine.

This still unclear initiative, Emmanuel Macron will have to explain to his partners.

Orban slows down on sanctions against Russia

But the issue that annoys is that of the sixth package of sanctions against Russia.

“ 

 This is what Victor Orban wrote to the President of the Council, Charles Michel, a week ago.

Budapest

on Russian hydrocarbons.

To find a compromise and save the unity of the EU, negotiations have lasted all week and are continuing this Monday morning, a few hours before the council.

800 million euros and four years of derogation instead of two.

This is what Hungary is demanding to give up Russian oil, which represents 65% of its supplies.

President Orban is asking for this money to allow on the one hand the adaptation of the country's refineries to other types of crude oil than Russian oil, and on the other hand the expansion of the Adria pipeline which arrives from Croatia

Behind these technical questions lie economic but also political issues, among others, because the current situation is financially favorable to Hungary and allows it to provide low-cost energy to the population, specifies

,

.

Several compromises are put on the table by the Council: the main one would be to temporarily exclude from the embargo the oil which arrives from Russia by the Druzhba pipeline, to sanction only maritime supplies.

The latter represent a third of purchases against two thirds for the Druzhba pipeline.

Despite these concessions, no agreement was in sight on Sunday evening, but the final examination of the 6th sanction package is only scheduled for the European Council in June.

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• European Union

• Russia

• Ukraine

• Hungary

• France