EU Reaches Agreement to End Russian Gas Purchases by 2027
Brussels – The European Council and the European Parliament have reached a landmark agreement to phase out imports of Russian natural gas, marking a significant step towards energy independence for the EU. The deal, announced today, sets a timeline for ending reliance on Russian fossil fuels, a key objective since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Under the agreement, imports of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Russia will cease by the end of 2026. Pipeline gas imports will be banned in a legally binding manner, beginning in autumn 2027.
“this is a historic day for our Union. A provisional agreement has been reached on the EU CommissionS proposal to phase out Russian fossil fuels. We are opening a new page,” stated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a press conference in Brussels.
The move builds on existing efforts to diversify energy sources. According to von der Leyen, EU imports of LNG and pipeline natural gas from Russia have already decreased from 45 percent to 13 percent. Coal imports have fallen from 51 percent to zero, and crude oil imports have dropped from 26 percent to 2 percent.
Von der Leyen affirmed that this agreement marks the beginning of Europe’s path to complete energy independence from Russia. The agreement will come into force following official approval by the EU Council and the European Parliament.
The initiative is designed to protect the EU’s supply security and contribute to the stability of the EU energy market.
