EU begins approval process for €90bn Ukraine loan and 20th Russia sanctions package

The EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) has launched a written procedure to approve amendments to the EU's 2021-2027 long-term budget, including a €90 billion loan for Ukraine and the EU's 20th package of sanctions against Russia.

Source: European Pravda, citing three EU diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity

Details: The written procedure requires the ambassadors of all 27 EU member states to sign the document or provide reasons for their refusal to do so.

The process is set to last 24 hours – until 12:00 on 23 April (13:00 Kyiv time) – but may conclude earlier if all the signatures are secured.

According to European Pravda, Hungary and Slovakia are expected to wait until Russian oil physically reaches their territories via the repaired Druzhba pipeline, meaning final approval is unlikely before the morning of 23 April.

Once the written procedure is successfully completed, both decisions must be unanimously adopted by the EU Council.

Background:

• Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár has said his country is ready to back the 20th Russia sanctions package, but only once Russian oil reaches Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline.
• Slovakia expects supplies through the repaired pipeline to resume on the morning of 23 April.
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has also stated that Budapest will unblock the €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine only after oil flows via Druzhba are restored.
• EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on 21 April that she expected the decision on the €90 billion loan for Ukraine to be approved within the next 24 hours.

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