The European Union is moving forward with a new package of sanctions against Russia that seeks to ban the import of fish and restrict the sale of liquefied gas. However, Bulgaria is blocking the agreement by opposing sanctions against Patriarch Kiril and the founder of Lukoil. For the average citizen, this means that political decisions are delaying measures that directly impact the price of cod and the energy bill.
The technical dilemma of liquefied gas and distribution networks ⚙️
The restriction on the sale of Russian liquefied gas implies reconfiguring supply chains at ports and regasification plants. Countries like Spain and Belgium, which import this gas, will have to seek alternatives in Qatar or the United States. The process is not immediate: adapting contracts, cryogenic tank logistics, and technical certifications takes months. Meanwhile, European energy dependence remains a weak point that bureaucracy does not resolve quickly.
The patriarch and the cod: an alliance against the frying pan 🐟
Bulgaria has decided that protecting Patriarch Kiril and the owner of Lukoil is more urgent than preventing the price of cod from rising. So, while diplomats debate whether a religious leader deserves sanctions, the average citizen wonders if they will have to return to a lentil diet. At this rate, we will soon need an Orthodox miracle for frozen fish not to cost as much as caviar.