EU Commission Faces Pressure to Present Russian Oil Ban Bill Amid Wavering Sanctions

The European Commission faces increasing pressure to table legislation banning Russian oil imports. This comes as some G7 countries, including the US and UK, have extended sanctions waivers, and Russian fossil fuel revenues reached over €733 million per day in April, the highest in two and a half years, according to CREA.

Green MEP Ville Niinistö from Finland stated the Commission's hesitation benefits Russia's war economy, emphasizing the need for a legal ban given the erosion of global sanctions. The bill was last slated for publication on April 15 but was removed from the agenda without explanation. Lithuania's energy minister, Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, hopes the proposal will be presented this year, acknowledging global oil crisis concerns. A Commission spokesperson affirmed focus on immediate actions due to the Iran energy shock but reiterated the goal to table an oil import proposal.