BRUSSELS (Realist English). The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have reached a political agreement on a regulation that will phase out imports of Russian natural gas, introducing the bloc’s most comprehensive energy restrictions since the start of the war in Ukraine.
According to an EU Council press release, all long-term contracts for Russian pipeline gas must end no later than 1 November 2027. Restrictions on long-term imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) will take effect earlier, starting 1 January 2027.
Short-term contracts signed before June 2025 will be subject to a transition period. Under the deal, imports of Russian LNG will be banned from 25 April 2026, while pipeline gas will be prohibited from 17 June 2026.
“This is a major victory for us and for all of Europe,” said Danish climate and energy minister Lars Aagaard. “We must end the EU’s dependence on Russian gas, and a full ban is an essential step in that direction.”
New licensing system and penalties
To enforce the restrictions, the EU will introduce a mandatory pre-approval system for all gas imports. Companies will be required to submit applications at least one month in advance. Both legal entities and individuals will face financial penalties for violating the new rules.
Member states will also be obliged to submit national plans outlining how they intend to diversify away from Russian energy supplies.
The European Commission intends to propose legislation for a full ban on Russian oil imports no later than the end of 2027, the Council statement said.
A long shift away from Russian energy
EU states have spent the past several years restructuring their energy markets. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the bloc has sharply reduced oil purchases from Russia and sought alternative suppliers of LNG and pipeline gas. However, several member states — chiefly Hungary and Slovakia — continue to rely heavily on Russian gas.
The new regulation marks the EU’s most definitive timeline yet for ending that dependence.
