Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen, in a written answer on 12 June 2026, confirmed that the EU does not restrict imports of Venezuelan oil, either directly or indirectly, and that the Commission lacks data on whether Venezuelan crude refined in the United States reaches the European market. The answer, addressed to Greens/EFA MEP Sara Matthieu, clarifies that while EU sanctions on Venezuela (Council Regulation 2017/2063) cover 217 product categories, they do not include an embargo on Venezuelan oil. Jørgensen provided monthly figures for US petroleum product exports to the EU from January to April 2026 (1.8, 1.0, 0.9 and 1.5 million tons respectively) but stated that the Commission does not track the origin of crude used in US refineries.
The response offers no concrete policy proposals or commitments to tighten monitoring, leaving the question of indirect Venezuelan oil imports unresolved. The answer follows Matthieu's query of 18 February 2026, which highlighted the US military intervention in Venezuela on 3 January 2026, the subsequent easing of US sanctions on Venezuelan oil, and concerns that oil revenues are managed by US authorities. No institutional follow-up is scheduled, but the issue may resurface in future trade or sanctions debates.
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