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 Moscow started its unprovokozed and comprehensive invasion in Ukraine.

Law proposal to gradually abolish gas imports

The European Commission, the executive body of the block, presented a legislative proposal on Tuesday that provides a gradual stop of the purchases of Russian natural gas - regardless of whether via pipeline or as liquefied natural gas (LNG) on tankers. From next year, new import contracts should no longer be allowed. Imports under existing short -term contracts must be discontinued in one year, while purchases are to be banned under long -term contracts by the end of 2027.

reactions of the European Commission

"Russia has repeatedly tried to blackmail us through the weapon of energy supply," said the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in a statement. "We took clear steps to finally turn on the tap and finally end the age of fossil fuels from Russia in Europe."

regulations for LNG terminals and oil imports

The proposal also contains a ban for Russian companies or those with Russian control, long-term contracts for the EU's LNG terminal services. This is to ensure that "the terminal capacity can be redirected to alternative providers". With regard to oil imports, the Commission proposed that the Member States, which still import Russian oil, have to create plans to gradually turn away these deliveries with the aim of fully stopping them by the end of 2027.

insight into current imports

Hungary and Slovakia imported Russian crude oil over pipelines last year, according to an analysis of the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air. The proposal on Tuesday brings more substance to the EU's "RepowerUeu" plan, which was presented in May 2022 to reduce the dependency of the block on Russian energy.

challenges from Russia-friendly Member States

Hungary and Slovakia, two EU countries with a more Russian-friendly government, have previously threatened to block new sanction rounds against Russia. While they ultimately agreed, the European Commission took measures to ensure that these countries are not able to hinder the latest plan of the Commission by using commercial and energy law as the basis for the proposal.

new sanctions against Russia

The new restrictions are law if they are approved by a “qualified majority”, which means that more than half of the EU member states, which represent at least 65% of the total population of the block, have to agree. If the plan had been proposed under the EU's sanction rules, a unanimous coordination of all Member States would have been necessary.

After the invasion of Moscow to Ukraine in the early year 2022, the EU drastically reduced its imports of Russian energy. The proportion of Russia in the overall galleries of natural gas in the EU fell to 19% last year, from 45% in 2021, according to official EU data. While Moscow only issued 3% of the total oil imports of the EU in 2024, it was still 27% at the beginning of 2022.

additional measures to weaken the Russian economy

Last week, the EU presented a new sanction package against Russia- the 18th since the Moscow invasion- aimed to reduce the ability of the Kremlin to achieve profit from its oil and gas production. From the Leyen emphasized that the sanctions were necessary "because strength is the only language that Russia will understand."

The proposed sanctions include the reduction in the price limit for Russian Olexports from per barrel and A complete ban on transaction against Russian banks and other financial institutions in third countries that help Russia avoid existing western sanctions. This new package still needs the approval of all 27 Member States of the EU, which could be complicated in the face of the previously expressed concerns of some EU countries, such as Hungary and Slovakia, regarding further sanctions against Russia.

Ivana Kottasová contributed to reporting.