In the European Union, “Plan B” is being developed, which, if necessary, would help to circumvent Hungary to circumvent the extension of anti -Russian sanctions, said Radio Liberty editor on European issues Ricard Yozvyak. The best lawyers of Brussels are already working on an alternative plan..

So, one of the ideas regarding the “Plan B” has already been expressed in March. However, it remains unverified and causes certain doubts about the legality. In particular, as Yozvyak explained, EU sanctions consist of two legal documents - decisions and regulations. These texts are essentially identical and function together. EU member countries agree and make a decision, which is then carried out through the regulations.

At the same time, the regulations must be extended every six months unanimously, the decision is not. In fact, the decision remains in force if the qualified majority does not vote for its cancellation.

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As Yozvyak explained, this will mean that sanctions may remain in force without the need for official extension. Such a course of events will help to avoid the fact that Hungary is highly likely to “blackmail” the extension of sanctions to other EU countries.

However, according to the diplomats with whom Yozvyak spoke, this is a very reserve option and temporary. After all, Hungary, and potentially other countries, will probably sue because of this, since such an approach will be unprecedented.

“This happened on a very shaky legal basis, since we have always used unanimity to extend sanctions - that is how it always worked,” said one of the diplomats.

But there are other “plans B” in the development, writes Yozvyak. According to him, it is most obvious that the European commission may offer additional sanctions in the coming weeks. This will be the 17th package of sanctions since the full-scale invasion of Russia in Ukraine.

But the trick is that these new sanctions will not actually be adopted. Instead, they will bargain for Hungary to agree to extend general sanctions. In this scenario, Budapest could have claimed victory that the new sanctions will not be adopted, while others would at least ensure extension by the end of the year already existing restrictions.

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Another possible way, Yozvyak notes, it would be allowed to cancel the action of sanctions, but to compensate for this by increasing duties for Russia in all equivalent sectors of the economy. Such a decision would not require unanimity, so it could become successful. However, in such a situation it is not clear what the EU would, for example, to all the export restrictions that he has already imposed on Russia?

Also, one of the options would be allowed to finish the validity of the EU sanctions, but to repeat the same measures at the national level. However, Jozvyak emphasizes, not all EU member countries have national sanctions legislation. Instead, they rely on the European structure. As a result, use will very soon become heterogeneous and inconsistent in the entire block.

At the same time, according to Yozvyak, there is another potential dilemma. In addition to the extension of sanctions, most EU member countries want Blok to begin negotiations on entering Ukraine no later than June.

This means that another potential veto of Hungary will have to overcome approximately simultaneously with the sanctions. It is possible that some of the EU frozen funds withheld from Budapest due to anxiety about the rule of law will have to be transferred to Hungary to solve both problems.

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At the end of March, it was reported that the EU is preparing new sanctions against Russia, despite the call of Moscow to weaken some restrictions in exchange for a partial truce. Work on the 17th package of sanctions by the time of the message has already begun, but was at a “very early stage”.

Recently, the European Commission called the withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine one of the main conditions for potential cancellation or changes in EU sanctions, amid the requirements of Russia to weaken restrictions. European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis assured that the EU will not cancel sanctions against the Russian Federation, even if the United States does it, because Brussels has its own sanctions policy that does not depend on the decisions of the administration of the American president Donald Trump.