Russian official accuses Brussels of weakening EU international competitiveness
(MENAFN) A top Russian official has sharply criticized the European Union’s latest energy policy, accusing Brussels of deliberately weakening the bloc’s competitiveness on the international stage. Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and special presidential envoy, made the remarks following a new EU proposal aimed at cutting all Russian energy imports within the next two years.
The plan, introduced by EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen and endorsed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, outlines a ban on any new gas contracts with Russia and includes steps to fully phase out Russian oil imports by 2027.
“EU Commission bureaucrats seem obsessed – with making the EU as uncompetitive as possible on the global stage,” Dmitriev wrote on X. “Mission accomplished or still in progress?”
His statement came shortly after Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto voiced strong opposition, describing the proposal as “a serious violation” of Hungary’s sovereignty. He argued that the EU appears willing to jeopardize his country’s secure and affordable energy access.
The proposed legislation would utilize EU trade mechanisms to enforce restrictions on Russian oil and gas imports, allowing Brussels to sidestep opposition from member states such as Hungary and Slovakia.
Following sanctions imposed over the Ukraine conflict in 2022, energy prices across Europe spiked. Jorgensen, however, emphasized that the new measures go beyond the conflict, stating that the push is necessary because “Russia has weaponized energy” in its dealings with the EU.
In response, Moscow has dismissed the sanctions as both unlawful and ineffective. President Vladimir Putin has made the removal of sanctions one of the prerequisites for any resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. Russian officials have also reiterated that Russia has long served as a reliable energy provider to the European Union.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
