EU summit unlikely to find solution on Russia oil embargo, von der Leyen says

div classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodivpDAVOS, Switzerland Reuters – European Union leaders are unlikely to strike a deal on an oil embargo against Russia at their summit on Monday and Tuesday, head of the blocs executive Ursula von der Leyen said.p

p“I dont think the summit is the right place for that… We should not stare at the summit,” she told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday. She added that negotiations with member states were ongoing. pdivdivdiv classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodiv

pVon der Leyens Commission has proposed phasing out Russian oil imports by the end of the year in most EU member states, while Hungary and others could be given more time.p

pIt would be the EU‘s harshest sanction yet in response to Moscow’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.p

pHungary, however, has so far refused to lift its veto. p

pIt says hundreds of millions of euros are needed to upgrade its refining and pipeline infrastructure so that it can cut out Russian oil, while a total modernisation of its energy system would cost billions of euros.p

pVon der Leyen said the negotiations were mainly focusing on working out details now: “I dont think that this will be a topic at the Council that will be decided there”.p

pShe was echoed by an EU official. p

p“There is no way that such a technical subject could be negotiated by the heads of state and government at the summit,” the official said.p

p

pp Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Jan Strupczewski, editing by Charlotte Van Campenhoutp

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