The European Commission unveiled a draft law on Tuesday that would see an end to Russian gas imports to the European Union by late 2027. Baning imports through law rather than sanctions would allow the EU to circumvent potential vetoes from Hungary or Slovakia.
The law would prohibit member states from entering into new contracts for the import of Russian gas starting from January 2026. Imports under existing short-term contracts would need to stop by mid June 2026, while those under long-term contracts would have to cease by the end of 2027.
The Commission wants to grant an exemption for pipeline gas imports to landlocked countries until the end of 2027. The exemption is intended for member states such as Hungary and Slovakia, which still import substantial quantities of Russian gas and have already expressed their opposition to the phase-out.
No vetoes
However, unlike with sanctions against Russia, opposing countries will not be able to veto the phase-out. As the ban is being presented as law, support from a qualified majority of member states will suffice. Member states that refuse to implement the law will face legal consequences, said EU energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen.
Analysis showed that the transition could be achieved without rising prices or compromising security of supply, said Jørgensen.
Jørgensen said that the EU would do everything it could to help them mitigate the negative impact that some countries have predicted. Analysis showed that the transition could be achieved without rising prices or compromising security of supply, he said.
Jørgensen also said that companies would not have to bear the costs of terminating their contracts with Russian suppliers. As imports will be prohibited by law, companies will be able to invoke force majeure, he explained.
Sustainable transition
The draft law also covers Russian oil imports, but not nuclear energy. The Commission said that it needs more time to legislate a ban on nuclear energy.
“Replacing Russian oligarchs with American or Qatari ones is not a step forward”
Belgian MEP Bruno Tobback (S&D) said that he believes that turning off the Russian gas supply is a positive step. “However, a ban on new contracts only makes sense if the Commission also provides the right alternatives. Replacing Russian oligarchs with American or Qatari ones is not a step forward,” he said. This is why, in his view, the EU must accelerate its transition to sustainable energy.
