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The Czech Republic will seek an exemption period to the European Union’s proposed embargo of Russian oil, gaining time for pipeline capacities to be increased, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Wednesday.
“We are ready to support this decision (on sanctions including oil), given the Czech Republic will have some postponement until capacity is increased in oil pipelines which can deliver oil to the Czech Republic,” Fiala said.
GERMANY WILL SUPPORT RUSSIAN OIL EMBARGO AFTER SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING DEPENDENCE: REPORT
“We are trying to get that postponement for two, maybe three years.”
The European Commission on Wednesday proposed a phased oil embargo on Russia, along with other tough measures to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. The measures include phasing out supplies of Russian crude oil within six months and refined products by the end of 2022.
European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, April 20, 2016. (REUTERS/Francois Lenoir)
The Czech Republic has been seeking an increase to capacity of the TAL pipeline – running from Italy via Austria to Germany – which is waiting for the approval by Bavarian authorities.
Fiala said he would debate the issue with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a visit to Berlin on Thursday.
SLOVAKIA SAYS IT WILL SEEK EXEMPTION FROM ANY EU EMBARGO ON RUSSIAN OIL
The Czech Republic joins others EU countries seeking a longer transition to introduce the ban. Slovakia, which gets nearly all its crude imports from Russia, wants a three-year transition period.
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Hungary also said it could not support measures in their current form.
