EU may impose sanctions on Russian fertilizers without taking into account the veto of Hungary or Slovakia

The European Commission is planning to propose imposing sanctions against Russia for the first time, without taking into account a possible veto by Hungary or Slovakia.

This is evidenced by the results of conversations between RMF FM  correspondent and EU diplomats after the first consultations of the European Commission with EU countries on the 16th package of sanctions.

The sanctions concern fertilizers and other agri-food products from Russia and Belarus. For the first time, the decision on sanctions will not be made unanimously, but by a qualified majority, since it will concern trade. Therefore, Hungary or Slovakia would not have the right to veto.

According to the proposed sanctions, duties on fertilizers and agricultural products from the Russian Federation and Belarus should be so high that in practice the import of these products would be stopped.

The EC also wants to attack the Russian “shadow fleet” with sanctions again. In addition to introducing restrictions against specific vessels, more creative solutions are also being considered, such as requiring the vessel and its owners to provide oil spill insurance.

Such decisions are being prepared by Denmark, Poland and other countries of the Baltic region, the publication notes.

Earlier, USM reported that EU shipyards continue to repair Russian ice-class gas carriers despite sanctions.