The European Commission has prepared a plan according to which a complete ban on the import of Russian gas — both pipeline and LNG — will be introduced by the end of 2027, writes Reuters.
The proposals will outline how the European Union plans to enshrine in legislation its promise to end the long-standing energy relationship with Russia, the former largest gas supplier to Europe, given after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, using legal measures to ensure this plan is not blocked by EU member countries Hungary and Slovakia.
According to an internal Commission report on the upcoming proposal, seen by the agency, the proposed measures include a gradual phase-out of consumption.
A ban on the import of pipeline gas and LNG will be introduced from January 1, 2026. However, exceptions are allowed for the completion of certain contracts.
For short-term gas agreements signed with Russia before June 17, 2025, a one-year transition period is allowed — until June 17, 2026.
Imports under existing long-term contracts will be banned from January 1, 2028, effectively ending any use of Russian gas in the EU.
LNG terminals in the EU will also gradually be deprived of the right to provide services to Russian clients, and companies importing Russian gas will be required to disclose information about their contracts to EU and national authorities.
EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen stated on Monday that the measures were designed so that companies could invoke a contractual clause of "force majeure" — unforeseen circumstances — to terminate contracts for the supply of Russian gas. "Since this will be a ban, companies will not face legal issues. It is force majeure, as if it were sanctions," Jorgensen told reporters.
Slovakia and Hungary, which seek to maintain close political ties with Russia, still import Russian gas via pipeline and claim that switching to alternative energy sources will lead to higher energy prices. They have pledged to block sanctions against Russian energy, which require unanimous approval from all EU countries, and have opposed the ban.
To circumvent this issue, an EU legal framework will be used, which can be adopted with the support of a reinforced majority of countries and the majority of the European Parliament, EU officials said.
About 19% of gas in Europe still comes from Russia via the "Turkish Stream" pipeline and LNG supplies, down from 45% in 2022. Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Spain are among the countries importing Russian LNG.