Experts believe that France is deliberately delaying the decision to ban Russian gas, waiting for the conflict to end. While some EU countries are ready to refuse, others fear serious economic consequences.
The European Union's unity on the issue of energy sanctions has been jeopardized by the position of France and Belgium. The two largest importers of Russian gas in the EU are in no hurry to support the European Commission's initiative for a complete ban on supplies, demanding guarantees of legal and economic security.
According to Politico, Paris and Brussels have slowed down the decision, although the plan presented in May provides for a complete refusal of Russian energy imports by 2027. Contradictions have arisen against the background of the forthcoming proposal to ban all new and existing spot contracts with Russian companies by the end of this year.
France's position is largely explained by economic interests. The French energy giant TotalEnergies owns a significant part of shares in the Russian gas producer Novatek. The company also owns stakes in the key projects Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG 2, and a complete ban would threaten it with serious financial losses. Igor Yushkov, a leading expert at the National Energy Security Fund, believes that Paris is deliberately delaying the process.
"Now the French cannot withdraw money from Russia, but they are worried that they will lose it altogether, so they are deliberately delaying the decision. This is their strategy: endlessly discussing the details of these sanctions, waiting for the end of the conflict," Yushkov told RIA Novosti.
Belgium, in turn, fears the economic impact on its infrastructure. The Port of Zeebrugge has long been a key transshipment hub for Russian LNG in Northwest Europe. While the country favors a phased withdrawal from Russian energy, it insists on a preliminary analysis of the consequences of a complete ban.