The European Commission has decided to postpone the official release of a long-awaited proposal aimed at enforcing a permanent ban on the importation of Russian oil. This delay comes at a time when the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to shake global energy markets, pushing crude oil prices above the $100 mark per barrel and creating uncertainty among European policymakers.
The postponement also occurs during a period of disagreement with Hungary and Slovakia, which remain the only European Union member countries still purchasing crude oil from Russia through the historic Druzhba pipeline that dates back to the Soviet era. The legislative plan, which forms part of the broader REPowerEU strategy designed to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels, had originally been expected to be presented on April 15. However, the scheduled date has now been removed without confirmation of a new timeline.
According to Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, spokesperson for the European Commission on energy matters, there is currently no confirmed date for the presentation of the proposal. She emphasized that the Commission remains fully committed to introducing the measure, even though the exact timing has changed due to ongoing geopolitical developments.
One of the major reasons behind the delay is the escalation of tensions involving Iran, following military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel. These events have caused major disruptions in the global oil supply chain, including the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which is considered one of the most critical maritime routes for energy transportation. Before the disruption, the passage handled roughly one-fifth of the world’s daily oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, making any instability in the region capable of triggering sharp price increases worldwide.
Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that discussions with Iran had been productive and could potentially lead to the end of hostilities. However, Iranian officials quickly rejected that statement, creating further uncertainty in the market. Despite the conflicting messages, oil prices dropped slightly from about $112 to around $102 per barrel after the announcement, showing how sensitive the energy market remains to political signals.
At the same time, the United States made a decision to relax certain sanctions related to Russian oil exports in an effort to stabilize supply and calm volatile markets. This move generated strong criticism from several European leaders, who believe easing restrictions could weaken the collective effort to reduce reliance on Russian energy resources.
Quoting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, officials warned that returning to Russian fossil fuels after the end of the war in Ukraine would represent a serious strategic mistake that could expose Europe to future political and economic pressure.
Opposition from Hungary and Slovakia
Previously, the European Union had already imposed restrictions on Russian oil through its sanctions framework, which must be renewed every six months with the approval of all member states. Hungary and Slovakia were granted special exemptions, allowing them to continue importing Russian crude because of their heavy reliance on the Druzhba pipeline for energy supply.
The new proposal, however, is being treated as an energy regulation instead of a foreign policy sanction. This means it could be approved through a qualified majority vote rather than requiring unanimous support. European officials believe this approach will prevent individual countries from blocking the decision in the future and will help eliminate remaining loopholes in the current system.
Under the REPowerEU roadmap, the European Union has already taken steps to phase out Russian gas imports, including plans to stop buying liquefied natural gas by the end of 2026 and to halt pipeline gas imports by autumn 2027. These measures are part of a broader effort to diversify energy sources and strengthen supply security across the region.
Hungary and Slovakia have strongly opposed these changes and have already taken legal action against the planned gas restrictions. Both governments have warned that they may also challenge the proposed oil ban if it moves forward, arguing that the policy could seriously damage their economies.
The dispute has become even more complicated because of the ongoing disagreement with Ukraine over the Druzhba pipeline, which transports relatively cheap Russian crude oil through Ukrainian territory to Central Europe. Ukrainian authorities say the pipeline infrastructure suffered significant damage earlier this year during military activity and requires repairs before operations can safely continue.
However, officials in Budapest and Bratislava reject this explanation, claiming the shutdown is politically motivated and linked to upcoming elections in Hungary scheduled for April 12. The disagreement has intensified tensions between the countries and has contributed to delays in approving a €90 billion financial assistance package intended to support Ukraine.
As a result of these combined geopolitical conflicts, legal disputes, and market instability, the European Commission has chosen to postpone the announcement of the oil ban proposal while it reassesses the situation and prepares a strategy that can gain sufficient support within theEU delays proposal to ban Russian oil amid Iran war, price spikes and Druzhba row
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