The Baltic states have demanded that the European Union accelerate the ban on imports of Russian energy carriers following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
According to the newspaper, EU negotiations on gradually reducing imports of Russian energy carriers stalled after the Strait of Hormuz was closed, as the closure raised concerns about a global energy crisis.
Sources told the newspaper that Brussels removed the topic from the European Commission's preliminary agenda in March due to the conflict with Iran.
Now, with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, calls for the opposite have resurfaced in the EU. "The Baltic states demanded that Brussels accelerate the implementation of delayed plans to ban Russian oil imports. Because the EU's forecast of a severe energy crisis due to the war in Iran did not materialize... At a meeting of energy ministers on Friday, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania called on the EU to propose steps for a phased halt to imports," the report said.
According to newspaper sources, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen did not comment on these statements during a closed meeting.
The newspaper reports that a ban on Russian energy resources may face opposition from member states struggling with high energy prices, as well as countries heavily dependent on Russian oil, such as Hungary and Slovakia.
Russia has previously stated that the West made a big mistake by refusing to purchase hydrocarbons from Russia.