The question of new sanctions will again be on the table at the summit. The Heads of State and Government could give guidelines to be refined later. This will undoubtedly be the case to close certain loopholes that persist, in particular via third countries. But probably not for a fuel embargo, as demanded by the United States, because it would hit the EU hard in return, and certain Member States in particular.
“Sanctions must have more impact on the Russian side than on the European side,” said De Croo. “We are not at war with ourselves, we are not going to take sanctions that weaken us in an unnecessary way”.
The head of the federal government recalls that Europe has already decided to get rid of its energy dependence on Russia. “All European countries are making this strategic choice step by step, it’s an irrevocable choice, which will have a heavy impact on the Russian economy. But an embargo would have a devastating impact on the European economy and I think it’s not is not necessary”.
Alexander De Croo insists on the importance of reducing the cost of the energy bill, for example by capping prices as Belgium proposes. However, this track seems to be less unanimous than joint gas purchases, thanks to which the EU would take advantage of its weight to lower prices during the negotiation of purchase contracts.
As for Vladimir Putin’s demand to charge for gas imports in roubles, it should have little impact on Belgium, which buys little Russian gas, but “if we change the elements of a contract, then everything is renegotiated, and therefore the prices too,” said Alexander De Croo.