EU moves to cut off Russian gas by 2027
The European Commission has announced a plan to end all imports of Russian gas by the end of 2027, in a bid to boost energy security and reduce financial support for Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The proposal, announced on Tuesday, builds on earlier efforts launched in 2022 to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels through a combination of energy savings, a faster green transition and supply diversification.
Although the EU managed to reduce Russian gas imports by 60 billion cubic metres per year between 2022 and 2024, imports increased again in 2024 to 52 billion cubic metres - 19 per cent of the EU's total gas imports. These volumes included both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), with Zeebrugge remaining an important transit hub for Russian LNG.
Avoiding economic blackmail
Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said the EU must end its dependence on Russian energy to avoid economic blackmail and to stop indirectly financing Russia's war effort. In 2023 alone, the EU paid 23 billion euros to Russia for energy - more than its financial support to Ukraine.
To support the phase-out, the Commission plans to introduce legislation next month to improve the transparency and traceability of Russian gas on EU markets. It is also proposing to ban new long-term and spot market contracts with Russian suppliers by the end of the year, which would cut supplies by a third. Existing contracts would be exempt from penalties under a force majeure clause.
Enriched uranium imports
The plan also includes restrictions on imports of enriched uranium and new contracts for nuclear materials from Russia. In addition, the EU will step up efforts to combat the "shadow fleet" used by Russia to evade oil sanctions.
Member states will be required to submit national plans to phase out Russian gas, oil and nuclear imports by the end of the year. While broadly welcomed, MEPs such as Bruno Tobback (S&D) and Wouter Beke (EPP) warned that cutting ties with Russia should not lead to new dependencies on the US or Qatar.
Jørgensen denied that the plan was influenced by American pressure, pointing out that reducing dependence on Russia was a mandate from Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
© PHOTO KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP
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