Brussels has shelved its plans to ban the EU shipping industry from carrying Russian crude as it struggles to push through its latest sanctions package because of anxiety among some member states about the economic impact of the measures.
A proposal targeting shipping that was tabled last week has been dropped by the European Commission following hard lobbying from Malta and Greece, which is home to more than half of the EU flag tonnage, according to several people familiar with the talks.
Separately, Hungary is continuing to withhold its backing from a proposed EU ban on imports of Russian oil, even after talks on Monday evening between commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán. A commission spokesperson insisted that the discussions showed “there is a path forward”.