Phasing out Russian natural gas imports and improving monitoring of potential energy dependencies

PURPOSE: to phase out pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) originating in or exported directly or indirectly from Russia, thereby preventing their access to the Union market.

PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: the unlawful full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation in February 2022 has revealed the dramatic consequences of the existing dependencies on Russian gas imports on markets and security, leading to significant negative impacts on the Union's economy. The reliance on Russian energy imports rendered the Union and Member States vulnerable to disruptions and price fluctuations, which have had a far-reaching impact on the entire economy.

Despite the significant progress and the halt of Russian gas transit through Ukraine at the end of 2024, Russian gas imports remain in the Union. It is estimated that these represent around 13% of the Union’s overall gas imports in 2025. The remaining Russian gas imports pose significant risks to the Union’s economic security. Against this background and considering that further payments more than EUR 15 billion per year for Russian gas imports endanger the Union’s security, it is necessary to take additional measures to eliminate these imports, recognising that a complete phase out of energy supplies from the Russian Federation has to be a gradual process, bearing in mind security of supply and market considerations.

CONTENT: the Commission proposal seeks to gradually phase out pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) originating in or exported directly or indirectly from Russia. It provides a framework for effectively removing the Union’s exposure to the significant risks for trade and security, resulting from gas trade with the Russian Federation by laying down:

- a stepwise prohibition of imports of natural gas from the Russian Federation and of the provision of LNG terminal services;

- rules to effectively implement and monitor that prohibition as well as the phase out of oil imports from Russia;

- provisions to better assess the security of energy supplies in the Union.

Moreover, the proposal:

- establishes a prohibition on natural pipeline gas imports as well as on LNG imports from the Russian Federation as of 1 January 2026;

- allows for exceptions from the immediate prohibition as of 1 January 2026. For short-term supply contracts concluded before 17 June 2025 the prohibition shall apply only as of 17 June 2026. In the case of gas quantities under long-term supply contracts concluded before 17 June 2025, the prohibition is applicable as of 1 January 2028;

- establishes a prohibition to provide long-term terminal services in EU LNG terminals to entities from Russia or controlled by persons from the Russian Federation as of 1 January 2026. The prohibition applies to LNG terminal services concluded or amended after 17 June 2025;

- establishes a transition phase of the prohibition for long-term LNG terminal services contracts concluded before 17 June 2025. In the case of services provided under these long-term contracts, the prohibition is applicable as of 1 January 2028;

- sets an obligation for importers of gas from Russia to provide Member States customs authorities all the necessary information for the implementation of the proposed Regulation;

- establishes an obligation for providers of LNG terminal services to share information with customs authorities;

- defines the obligation of customs authorities to exchange information received from the importers of gas from Russia with the Commission and other Member States’ authorities;

- requires those Member States importing oil from Russia to establish a diversification plan in view of a phase out of oil and gas imports from Russia by 31 December 2027;

- establishes an obligation for the Commission to effectively monitor the development of the energy market and any security of supply risks in relation to imports from Russia.