Hungary wants the European Union to persuade Ukraine to resume gas transit from Russia to Europe, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday, signalling a tough debate as the EU seeks to extend its sanctions against Russia over the coming week.

Hungary prolonged its blockage of the renewal of sanctions against Russia as Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on the European Union to pressure Ukraine to re-establish the transit of Russian gas to Europe.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Friday said he wants the European Union to intervene in a gas dispute his country has with Ukraine, a potential sign of friction in the bloc's upcoming discussions over renewing sanctions against Russia.

The UK joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention is up for discussion in reset talks, says Maros Sefcovic.

BBC interview to the idea of Britain joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean convention (PEM), a customs agreement between the EU and 20 countries, including several in the Middle East and the Balkans, where all countries share the same “rules of origin”.

Maros Sefcovic also said relations with the UK were "improving", and said he had the number of British counterpart Nick Thomas-Symonds "on speed dial".