EU to exempt US, Qatari gas from extra checks under its Russian gas ban

The European Union will exempt gas from key suppliers including the U.S. and Qatar from extra checks under its upcoming Russian gas ban, a draft European Commission document seen by Reuters showed.



EU countries gave their final sign-off this week to the bloc's legally-binding plan to phase out Russian gas imports by late 2027, allowing it to pass into law.



To enforce the ban, the EU will subject shipments of gas and liquefied natural gas from non-Russian countries to "prior authorisation" - meaning that companies must provide European customs authorities with proof of the gas's production country five days before it arrives in the EU.