EU’s top diplomat wants to increase scrutiny on European buyers of Indian products based on Russian oil
The HinduMay 19, 2023 09:10 pm | Updated 10:34 pm IST - London Days after saying the European Union had to curb the import of refined petroleum products from India, the EU’s top foreign affairs and security official, Josep Borrell, suggested that EU entities buying refined products from India were primarily accountable for the leakage of Russian oil-based products into the EU. “This week we also had a discussion on the specific issue of India’s growing oil purchases from Russia and the growing exports to the EU of refined products that are most likely based on cheap Russian oil,” Mr. Borrell said, describing the issue as a dilemma. Mr. Borrell emphasised a point he made earlier this week in a Financial Times interview, saying it is “normal” for India to make use of the opportunity to buy cheaper oil below the price cap. All this does also raise moral issues,” Mr. Borrell wrote, quoting an economic adviser to Ukrainian President Zelensky as saying actions by European companies which buy refinery products made from Russian oil and sell them in Europe are “completely legal, but completely immoral.” When he raised the issue of Indian exports of refined products based on Russian oil, it was not to criticise the Indian government, Mr. Borrell wrote,“ but to say that we cannot close our eyes to how EU companies themselves are circumventing the sanctions”.