Overview

• The European Commission is assessing the possibility of reclassifying sanctions on Russia as trade measures, which would require only a qualified majority vote instead of unanimity.
• Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has repeatedly threatened to veto EU sanctions renewals, citing close ties with Moscow and economic concerns.
• Officials are also exploring alternative frameworks, including exploiting legal distinctions between decisions and regulations to extend sanctions without unanimous consent.
• Another option under discussion is forming a coalition of willing EU member states to enforce sanctions at the national level if collective action is blocked.
• The EU has implemented 16 sanctions packages against Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, including freezing €200 billion in Russian assets and targeting over 2,500 individuals and entities.