Curbing the Gas Flow: EU's Push to End Russian Gas Imports by 2027
X plans to cease gas purchases from Russia by 2027 documented by the commission.
Butt heads, EU and Russia, as Brussels proposes a gas ban! On a stormy Tuesday, the EU Commission unveiled a multi-step strategy, intending to snuff out new contracts with Russian gas suppliers, starting January 1st, 2026 [3][4]. By the end of 2027, they're aiming for a chilling shutdown of all Russian gas into the EU [2][3][4]. The ball now lies in the Council of the 27 EU member states and the European Parliament's court, awaiting their majority approval.
Ursula von der Leyen, EU Commission President, spoke out, branding Russia as a bully wielding gas supplies as a weapon against us [2]. "We ain't gonna take it any longer!" she shot back, hammering home the message that the era of Russian fossil fuels in Europe will meet its end [2].
Last year, Russian pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) rang up around 19% of the 27 EU countries' gas imports [1]. Approximately a third of these shipments were courtesy of short-term contracts, making them easy pickings for the chopping block [2][3][4]. The Commission's got its sights set on canceling these deliveries as of June 17th, 2026 [2][3][4]. However, exceptions will be made for long-term, pipeline agreements with countries lacking access to water and ports. Countries like Hungary and Slovakia might still swallow substantial quantities of gas from Russia until the end of 2027 [2].
Sources:
- ntv.de
- AFP
Additional Insights:- Phased Implementation: - New Contracts: From January 1, 2026, new Russian pipeline gas and LNG contracts are off the table [3][4]. - Short-term Contracts: Existing short-term contracts (signed before June 17, 2025, and lasting under a year) will cease by June 17, 2026 [2][3][4]. - Long-term Contracts: Importation under existing long-term contracts will be axed from January 1, 2028, though the Commission expects most imports to peter out by the end of 2027, with minor exceptions for landlocked countries tied to long-term agreements allowed until the end of 2027 [2][3][4].- Legal Enforcement: The Commission's plan, designed to be legally binding, will employ mechanisms to deter member states like Hungary and Slovakia from scrapping the measure [2][4].- Legislative Process: The proposal is still in draft form and demands negotiation among EU institutions (the "trilogue" process) before securing approval. To push it through, the EU Council needs a qualified majority (at least 15 of the 27 member states representing 65% of the EU population), and the European Parliament will decide via a simple majority [3].- Current Reliance: As of 2024, the EU still clung to Russian imports for 19% of its gas supply and 3% of its crude oil share [3].
- The EU's strategy to end Russian gas imports by 2027 includes a policy change that will prohibit new employment of Russian gas suppliers' contracts from January 1, 2026.
- The EU Commission's policy-and-legislation, aimed at ending reliance on Russian gas, also includes a provision for canceling short-term gas contracts with Russia, starting from June 17, 2026.
- The industry and finance sectors may be affected by the EU's decision to phase out Russian gas imports, especially in light of the ongoing energy politics and general news surrounding the EU's push to wean itself off Russian gas.
