Baltic states urge EU to revive stalled Russian oil ban

Baltic states urged the European Commission this week to fast-track a Russian oil import ban shelved amid the Middle East energy crisis, according to the Financial Times.ft+1
The Commission promised the oil ban legislation in 2025 but pulled it from the agenda after Strait of Hormuz disruptions pushed Brent crude above $100 per barrel.euractiv+1
Hungary and Slovakia continue to resist aggressive timelines, and no new date has been set for the Commission to table the proposal.ua+1

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania urged the European Commission this week to accelerate a legislative proposal for a complete ban on Russian oil imports, arguing that fears of an energy crisis sparked by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have failed to materialize and can no longer justify delay.

The appeal came at a meeting of EU energy ministers in Brussels on Thursday, according to the Financial Times, where the Baltic states pressed their case that Russian energy revenues continue to fund Moscow's war in Ukraine. Poland backed the push, with officials calling for a ban before the end of the year.ft+2

A Proposal Shelved by Crisis

The European Commission had originally planned to present a legislative proposal for a phased Russian oil ban this spring, but the initiative was removed from the agenda amid the Middle East conflict and resulting disruption to global energy markets. Brent crude prices rose above $100 per barrel after the Strait of Hormuz was closed, and EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen warned in April that it could take "more than a couple of years to recover gas production" even if the strait reopened fully.esade+2

The broader EU regulation phasing out Russian gas imports entered into force in February 2026, but a separate oil ban — promised by the Commission in 2025 — has never been formally tabled. The December 2025 political agreement between the European Parliament and Council committed to ending Russian gas imports by late 2027 and stated that the Commission "remains committed to ensure the phase out of all remaining oil imports from Russia by the end of 2027".euractiv+3

Resistance and Uncertainty Remain

The Baltic states argue that energy markets have stabilized enough to move forward. However, resistance persists from Hungary and Slovakia, which remain partially dependent on Russian crude and have consistently opposed aggressive timelines. Some EU officials acknowledge that even with political consensus, reorienting energy supplies is a complex and lengthy process.ua+1

Jørgensen has acknowledged improving conditions but cautioned that oil and gas markets could take months to years to fully normalize. Whether the Commission will now revive the stalled legislative proposal remains unclear, with no new date set for its presentation.al-monitor+3

Sources (27)