EU allows Slovakia to export Russian oil products to Czechia
Photo: EU allows Slovakia to export Russian oil products to Czechia (Getty Images)
The European Union has granted Slovakia an additional year to export fuel produced from Russian oil to Czechia, reports Reuters.
The country's sole oil refinery, Slovnaft, owned by the Hungarian company MOL, seeks to reduce its dependence on Russian oil. The refinery claims that it needs more time to achieve this goal.
"While the EU has imposed sanctions on Russian crude, some countries have exemptions," the article says.
The exception allowing Czechia to import crude oil of Russian origin expired on December 5. The extension of this exception until December 5, 2024, was part of the amendments approved under the 12th package of EU sanctions against Russia.
Slovakia requested an extension. Without it, Slovnaft would lose the ability to export oil to its neighbor and could only produce for the domestic market.
12th EU sanctions package against Russia
Yesterday, the European Union implemented a new, 12th package of sanctions against the aggressor country, Russia.
It includes Belarusian and Russian military personnel and officials who facilitated the war in Ukraine and the annexation of territories. Defense industry enterprises and "private military companies" also fall under these sanctions.
