The European Union is gearing up to revive discussions on strengthening sanctions against Russia once Hungary’s presidency comes to an end in January 2025, according to a report by Politico.

EU member states are looking forward to Poland taking over the rotating presidency, with hopes of addressing loopholes in existing sanctions and tightening restrictions on Russian energy imports amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. Poland has already signaled its intention to focus on these issues during its six-month leadership stint. The current situation has seen sanctions momentum stall under Hungary’s direction, with pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán using his country’s presidency to bring sanctions talk to a virtual halt, according to diplomats and officials.

According to Politico, Krzysztof Bolesta, Poland’s minister for climate and the environment, expressed concern over the growing imports of Russian energy at a recent meeting in Luxembourg.

“This is a bad sign. We need to address that,” Bolesta stated.

A senior EU diplomat, speaking anonymously to Politico, criticized the Hungarian presidency as “disastrous” and expressed hope that issues blocked by Hungary would be addressed with urgency under new leadership.

The focus is expected to shift towards refining existing restrictions rather than introducing entirely new measures. David O’Sullivan, the EU’s top diplomat on sanctions, has indicated that discussions may include extending sanctions to EU companies’ foreign subsidiaries – the so-called no-Russia clause.

Poland is also pushing for greater transparency on Russian fossil fuel imports into the EU. The document, obtained by Politico, advocates for stricter checks on the origin of gas entering the EU to ensure full traceability and transparency.

However, challenges remain. Any new sanctions would still require unanimity among EU members, with Hungary likely to continue wielding its veto power. The European Commission also needs to propose new measures before member states can discuss them.

At a recent meeting of European leaders, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, member states committed to “further limit Russia’s ability to wage war, including by further sanctions.“

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