EU readies ban on Russian gas imports by end of 2027

17/6/2025 13:16

The European Commission is set to propose on Tuesday a ban on EU imports of Russian gas and liquefied natural gas by the end of 2027, using legal measures to ensure the plan cannot be blocked by EU members Hungary and Slovakia.



The proposals will set out how the European Union plans to fix into law its vow to end decades-old energy relations with Europe's former top gas supplier Russia, made after Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.



An internal Commission summary of the upcoming proposal, seen by Reuters, said it would fix into law a ban on imports of Russian pipeline gas and LNG from January 1, 2026, with longer deadlines for certain contracts.



It said, short-term Russian gas deals signed before June 17, 2025 would have a one-year transition period, to June 17, 2026.



The summary said, imports under existing long-term Russian contracts would then be banned from January 1, 2028 - effectively ending the EU's use of Russian gas by this date.