OREANDA-NEWS The European Commission (EC) needs to study the possibility that India will re-export oil purchased from Russia to the European Union, said Mark Botenga, a member of the European Parliament (EP) from Belgium, citing data on New Delhi's trade indicators in the energy sector. "The tape.ru" got acquainted with the relevant appeal of the deputy to the EC.

"The EU has imposed sanctions on the import of Russian oil. Meanwhile, India has increased imports of Russian crude oil. Indian refineries now process Russian crude oil, which was previously processed in European countries, including Germany, Greece, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. At the same time, exports of Indian fuel to Europe have increased significantly, partly to compensate for interruptions in fuel supplies due to EU sanctions against Russian crude oil," the EP member noted.

It is reported that India's exports of petroleum products to the EU increased by about 22% in one year. European media reports that Indian companies are re-exporting excess refined Russian oil to Europe

Based on these data, Botenga asks the European Commission how it assesses this situation and whether it recognizes the fact that part of the oil imported from India is of Russian origin.

"Can the European Commission confirm that when Russian crude oil is processed in India, the resulting fuel is not considered Russian and therefore can be supplied to the EU?" the MEP asked.

Does it recognize, that part of the fuel imported from India is actually repackaged Russian oil? If not, how does it explain the parallel between the increase in imports of Indian crude oil from Russia and the export of Indian fuel to the EU?

Earlier, Botenga said that the countries of the Middle East "benefited from the shock" associated with the conflict in Ukraine, as thanks to the crisis they were also able to increase energy imports to the European Union.

"What evidence does the European Commission have that diesel fuel imported to the EU from Saudi Arabia is not actually repackaged Russian oil? Is he aware of the difference between the (average) price that Saudi Arabia pays for diesel fuel imports from Russia at a discount, and the price of EU imports from Saudi Arabia?" the text of his appeal to the EC said.