The EU postpones the legislative proposal to ban oil imports from Russia, but will not give up on it.

The European Commission has decided to postpone the presentation of the legislative proposal for the definitive ban on oil imports from Russia, initially scheduled for April 15, according to an updated legislative agenda.

An EU official confirmed that the proposal has not been canceled, but only delayed due to 'current geopolitical developments', in the context of the oil shortage generated by the war in Iran. This proposal aimed to gradually phase out Russian oil imports by the end of 2027, following a previous law that provided for the gradual elimination of gas imports from Russia. Although the immediate impact on physical supply is limited, Brussels wants to ensure a permanent legislative ban on Russian oil, even in the event of a potential peace agreement in Ukraine.

Current sanctions have significantly reduced oil imports from Russia, with Hungary and Slovakia being the only EU countries that continued to import.