The European Union (EU) is mired in negotiations to approve the 18th package of sanctions against Russiabut it has encountered a Unexpected obstacle: Malta. While countries such as Hungary or Slovakia are usually indicated by their proximity to Moscow, the firm opposition of the small island nation has surprised many in Brussels.
A senior European official cited in international media has revealed that Malta resists reducing the top of the price of Russian oilcurrently set at $ 60 per barrel. The European Commission’s proposal intends to lower it to $ 45in an attempt to limit Kremlin’s income. However, “Malta’s position has so far prevented a consensus”recognizes the official.
Greece and Cyprus, which initially also opposed the cut, have already removed their objections. Not so Malta, who argues that Any change would deeply affect your shipping industrya key sector for its national economy.
“We could not express our political support during the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of yesterday. However, The conversations continue and Malta participates constructively with this objective“Malta’s permanent representative said to the EU in a.
that “Malta’s specific concerns have not been detailed, but A large number of ships fly the flag of the island nation“In addition, he points out that” his maritime insurance sector has previously expressed his concern for the measures that could lead the shipowners to change the pavilion out of the EU, causing economic damage to maritime records of the block and related industries“.
The sanctions package, presented to the Member States in June, includes Key measures for energy and financial sectors:
- Total prohibition of transactions through the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines.
- Russian oil limit reduction 60 to 45 dollars per barrel.
- Inclusion of 77 new oil tankers to the “shadow fleet” list.
- Prohibition of importing refined products from Russian crude From third countries.
- Transformation of swift restrictions into a total prohibition for 22 Russian banks and third operators.
- Sanctions to the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and its subsidiaries.
Maltaindicated by his growing paper in oil transfer operations linked to Russiacould force European leaders to pass the package without the new price limit, while negotiations continue to guarantee the energy supply to Hungary and Slovakia.
