Overview

• EU ambassadors in COREPER II agreed to forward the Commission’s draft to ministers for a Council decision scheduled on 20 October, according to diplomats cited by Reuters.
• The plan seeks to end EU imports of Russian oil and gas by January 2028, with a proposed ban on Russian LNG starting in early 2027 as part of the 19th sanctions package.
• Diplomats said nearly all member states back the proposal, with only Hungary and Slovakia expressing concerns as technical adjustments are discussed ahead of the vote.
• Hungary is pursuing exemptions from a full LNG ban and is not currently threatening a veto, EUObserver reported, as relayed by TASS.
• Slovakia aims to link its support to concessions on the EU’s planned 2035 phaseout of internal combustion engine cars, with Prime Minister Robert Fico expected to raise the issue at the 23 October leaders’ meeting.