Europe is planning a ban on Russian oil and gas in the Ukraine conflict

Europe is planning a ban on Russian oil and gas in the Ukraine conflict

The European Union is closer to a complete ban on import for Russian oil and natural gas, more than three years after the unprofitable, comprehensive attack on Moscow on Ukraine.

new proposals from the EU Commission

The European Commission, the EU Executive, submitted a legislative proposal on Tuesday that provides the gradual exit from the purchases of Russian natural gas - both through pipelines and in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on tankers. According to the plan, no new import contracts will be allowed from the coming year, while imports will have to be hired in one year as part of existing short-term contracts for most EU member states. Purchases within the framework of long -term contracts should be banned by the end of 2027.

response from the EU Commission

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, noticed in a statement: "Russia has repeatedly tried to blackmail us by using its energy deliveries as a weapon. We have taken clear steps to turn the tap and finally end the age of the Russian fossil fuels in Europe."

effects on the LNG services

The proposal also includes a ban that Russia controlled companies can sign long-term contracts for EU LNG terminal services to ensure that the "terminal capacity can be assigned to alternative suppliers."

oil imports and planned measures

In terms of oil imports, the Commission proposed that the Member States, which continue to import Russian oil, have to create plans in order to gradually expose these deliveries by the end of 2027. For example, Hungary and Slovakia imported Russian crude oil over pipeline last year, according to an analysis of the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

the repoweru-plan

The proposal specifies the "RepowerUeu" plan of the EU, which was launched in May 2022 in order to reduce the dependence of the block on Russian energy. Hungary and Slovakia, two EU countries with friendly governments to Russia, have previously threatened to block new sanctions against Russia. Although they ultimately agreed, the European Commission has taken steps to ensure that they cannot block the latest plan by using trade and energy regulations as the basis for the proposal.

conditions for approval

The new restrictions will be law if they are approved with a “qualified majority”, which means that more than half of the EU member states, which represent at least 65% of the population of the block, have to agree. If the plan had had to be proposed as part of the EU sanctions, it would have required the unanimous consent of all Member States.

new sanctions against Russia

The EU drastically reduced its imports of Russian energy after Moscow marched to Ukraine in early 2022. According to the official EU data, the proportion of Russia in the total import of natural gas from the block last year fell to 19%, from 45% in 2021. At the same time, Moscow only made up 3% of the EU's total oil import in 2024, compared to 27% at the beginning of 2022.

Last measures for containment

Last week, the EU revealed a new Sanction package against Russia-The 18 Again to further reduce the ability of the Kremlin to make money from its oil and gas production. The Leyen said that the sanctions were necessary "because strength is the only language that Russia will understand."

content of the new sanction package

The proposed sanctions include a reduction in the price limit for Russian Olexports from 45 Dollar per barrel as well as A complete ban on transaction for Russian banks and other financial institutions in third countries that help Russia avoid existing western sanctions. The new package must be approved by all 27 Member States of the EU, which could be complicated due to the concerns previously expressed by some EU countries such as Hungary and Slovakia.