Speaking at a rally in Milan, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of Lega party, said that the EU needs to prioritize energy security and remove restrictions on supply from Russia to avoid the risk of economic crisis. He also called for the suspension of regulations in the Stability and Growth Pact, and criticized the Green Deal policy that he called a barrier to the economy.
According to Mr. Salvini, the use of financial resources should be directed towards supporting people in difficulty, instead of maintaining trade restrictions. He suggested that Brussels act similarly to the US in easing measures related to Russian oil.
The context is emphasized as the energy crisis in Europe becoming more serious due to the conflict in the Middle East. The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping route accounting for about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, has pushed oil prices up by 70% since February.
The US has temporarily eased some restrictions on Russian oil, allowing trading of shipments loaded onto ships before March 12 and then extending them to continue purchasing until mid-May. Mr. Salvini said that if Washington can take this step, the EU should also consider avoiding closing factories, schools and hospitals.
Previously, the EU approved a plan to gradually eliminate Russian gas through pipelines by 2027, despite objections from Slovakia and Hungary. Hungary has sued this decision in the EU court, while Slovakia has also announced that it will take similar action. Mr. Robert Fico said that this ban violates the basic principles of EU treaties.
