MEPs approve gradual ban on Russian gas imports to EU

Strasbourg (France), 17 December (CTK special correspondent) - The European Parliament today approved in Strasbourg a ban on imports of Russian gas into Europe by autumn 2027 at the latest. The regulation covers liquefied natural gas (LNG), imports of which should end no later than 1 January 2027, as well as pipeline gas imports, for which the latest deadline is 1 November 2027 under certain conditions.

The European Union thus wants to deprive Russia of a means of financing its war in Ukraine while strengthening the energy independence of its member states. A total of 500 MEPs voted in favour today, 120 voted against and 32 abstained.

The European Commission proposed the measure in June this year. Representatives of EU institutions agreed on its final form at the beginning of December, and member states backed it a week ago. Following the MEPs’ approval today, it still needs final formal confirmation by the Council of the EU and publication in the EU’s Official Journal.

The ban on Russian gas imports will apply to short-term supply contracts concluded before 17 June 2025 from 25 April next year for LNG and from 17 June 2026 for pipeline gas. For long-term LNG contracts, the ban will apply from 1 January 2027.

For the most sensitive contracts, namely long-term contracts for pipeline gas imports, the ban will take effect on 30 September 2027 if member states are able to meet their gas storage filling targets. The latest date for the ban on pipeline gas imports to take effect is 1 November 2027.

In October, Russia accounted for 12 percent of EU gas imports, down from 45 percent before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Reuters reports. Countries that still import Russian gas include Hungary, France and Belgium. In this context, the European Commission will propose next year to end imports of Russian oil and nuclear fuel as well.

Hungary and Slovakia, which still import Russian gas and oil, had already opposed the measure. At a meeting of EU energy ministers at the end of October, however, other countries outvoted their representatives; a qualified majority was sufficient for approval. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said a few days ago that Budapest and Bratislava would challenge the ban on Russian gas imports in court.