EU agrees to ban Russian gas imports by late 2027
The European Union has agreed to phase out gas imports from Russia by the end of 2027, as part of an effort to end the bloc’s decade-long dependence on Russian energy.
EU governments and representatives of the European Parliament agreed early Wednesday on proposals put forward by the European Commission in June to end shipments from the EU’s former biggest gas supplier after Russia invades Ukraine in 2022.
Under the agreement, the European Union will permanently stop importing Russian gas and move towards phasing out Russian oil.
Liquefied natural gas imports will be phased out by the end of 2026, and pipeline gas imports will be phased out by the end of September 2027.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her statement: “Today we are stopping these imports permanently. We stand in solidarity with Ukraine by emptying Putin’s war chest and look to new energy partnerships and opportunities for the sector.”
The ban on short-term contracts made before June 17, 2025 will be valid from April 25, 2026 for LNG and from June 17, 2026 for pipeline gas.
For long-term contracts signed before June 17, the deadlines will be early 2027 and early October 2026, with a possible one-month extension for EU members experiencing difficulties reaching required storage levels.
Imports of both categories of gas will be subject to prior authorization, except for countries with large gas production that ban or restrict imports of Russian gas.
As of October, Russia accounted for 12 percent of the EU’s gas imports; this rate was 45 percent before it invaded Ukraine in 2022; Hungary, France and Belgium were still among the countries supplying gas.
The Commission is also determined to phase out the remaining oil imports from Russia by the end of 2027, with a legislative proposal to be submitted at the beginning of 2027.
According to Wednesday’s agreement, EU members will submit their “national diversification” plans for oil and gas supplies to the Commission by March 1 and will have to inform the EU administration whether there are Russian gas supply contracts or national bans.
The Commission will make recommendations based on this feedback.
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