The European Union (EU) took another decisive step in energy distancing from Russia, by approving the gradual reduction of imports of Russian gas until its total ban. The decision, taken by the EU Council, comes in the context of the war in Ukraine and aims to reinforce the bloc’s energy autonomy, reducing a dependence considered strategic and politically sensitive.
With Hungary and Slovakia voting against and Bulgaria abstaining, the EU Council decided that imports of piped gas from Russia will be progressively reduced until it is banned at the beginning of 2027. In the case of liquefied natural gas (LNG), the ban should come into force in the autumn of that same year.
This decision, according to the portal specialized mainly in technology Pplware, fits into the strategy defined after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. In the Versailles Declaration, adopted in March 2022, European leaders committed to eliminating, as quickly as possible, dependence on Russian fossil fuels, after Moscow used energy as an instrument of political pressure.
As early as 2022, as was reported at the time, Europe was facing an abrupt increase in energy prices, with a direct impact on the cost of living and consumer goods.
At the time, the International Energy Agency, through the voice of its executive director, Fatih Birol, warned of the need for Europe to find alternatives, admitting that a total cut, although difficult, could not be excluded.
Falling imports, but dependence still relevant
In the following years, imports of Russian gas and oil to the EU decreased significantly. Still, according to data from Brussels, although Russian oil imports fell to less than 3% in 2025, due to the sanctions regime in force, Russian gas continued to represent around 13% of the bloc’s imports that year.
This volume corresponded to more than 15 billion euros annually, a value that shows that, despite efforts, dependence has not completely disappeared.
Countries required to diversify suppliers
According to a statement from the Council, the ban on purchases of Russian gas will begin to apply within six weeks, providing for a transition period for existing contracts. After this deadline, the 27 Member States will have to prove the origin of the gas they import.
“From today, the EU’s energy market will be stronger, more resilient and more diversified. We are freeing ourselves from harmful dependence on Russian gas and taking an important step, in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation, towards an autonomous Energy Union”, said Michael Damianos, Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry of Cyprus, quoted in the same statement.
Impact on prices and risk of sanctions
In January last year, after the failure of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian state company Gazprom stopped export flows.
Although the European Commission had guaranteed, at the time, that the impact on supply would be “limited”, the price of gas in Europe exceeded 50 euros per megawatt-hour, for the first time since October 2023, according to the same source.
Under the new rules, non-compliance can result in heavy sanctions: at least 2.5 million euros for natural persons and, in the case of companies, a minimum of 40 million euros, or up to 3.5% of global annual turnover.
National plans until 2026
By March 1 of this year, Member States must present national plans to diversify gas supplies and identify possible difficulties in substituting gas from Russia. Companies are also obliged to inform national authorities and the European Commission about any contracts still in force with Russian suppliers.
Furthermore, according to , countries that continue to import oil from Russia will also have to present diversification plans, as the community executive is preparing a similar proposal to extend the ban to this fuel as well.
The decision thus marks a new stage in the European energy strategy, with economic and geopolitical impacts that should be felt in the coming years.
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