EU finally decides to give up Russian gas
Brussels (dpa) – The EU member states have definitively decided on a complete import stop of gas from Russia by the end of 2027 at the latest. Accordingly, the import of Russian gas via pipelines is to be gradually and, from 1 November 2027 at the latest, completely discontinued, including long-term contracts. 24 of the 27 EU member states in Brussels voted in favor of a corresponding regulation, thus achieving the necessary majority. According to an analysis by the EU Commission, completely renouncing Russian gas does not pose a risk to security of supply.
New regulation despite adopted gas sanctions
Until the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the energy supply in Germany and many other EU countries was largely secured with the help of cheap oil and gas from Russia. The transition takes time – especially because major impacts on consumer energy prices are to be avoided. As a result of the war of aggression, the EU had already imposed extensive import bans on Russian energy sources such as coal and oil.
Russia’s gas is still reaching the EU, but from 2027 a complete import ban on liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia will apply. The punitive measure is part of a sanctions package against Moscow adopted in October. The regulation now adopted is intended, in addition to an import ban, to also create legal certainty for pipeline gas from Russia: while the sanctions against Moscow have to be extended every six months and require unanimity among the member states, the legal changes now envisaged will apply permanently.
However, the regulation contains a kind of safeguard clause in case the security of supply of one or more member states should be seriously endangered. Under these circumstances, the EU Commission could allow the affected EU countries to suspend import bans on gas. Only if a member state declares a state of emergency are time-limited deliveries then permitted.
Russia makes billions in profits from energy supplies
Even after almost four years of war, Russia continues to earn billions in profits from energy supplies to the EU. In the first half of 2025, according to data from the EU statistics agency Eurostat, the EU imported liquefied natural gas worth almost 4.5 billion euros from Russia. In 2024, natural and processed gas worth 15.6 billion euros had been imported from there. For comparison: from the USA, gas worth 19.1 billion euros was imported. (26 January)
