Slovakia is the only country that still does not want to approve the EU's 19th sanctions package, referring to the fact that they first want measures that lower energy prices and save the car industry.
Concessions are expected ahead of this week's EU summit, for example in the form of an accelerated review of the ban on new petrol cars from 2035.
At the same time, the EU countries' environment ministers are trying to unite on climate goals until 2040 and an updated climate plan ahead of the environmental meeting COP30 in Brazil.
When there is a fire in two places in the house, you cannot put out one fire and lean back. We must keep several balls in the air, notes Sweden's Romina Pourmokhtari (The Liberals) on her way into an EU meeting with her colleagues in Luxembourg on Tuesday.
A climate agreement ahead of COP30 will likely be delayed until an extraordinary preliminary environmental minister meeting on November 4.