The EU will ban Russian gas pipelines and LNG by 2027, granting emergency exceptions for Hungary and Slovakia.
Short-term contracts signed before June 2025 face phased bans starting April 2026 for LNG and June 2026 for pipeline gas.
Long-term LNG contracts continue until January 2027, while long-term pipeline gas deals stop in September 2027, potentially delayed to November.
Member states accelerated the move after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, sending energy prices soaring across Europe.
EU data shows the bloc cut dependence on Russian gas from 45% to 13% by mid-2025, yet imports still reached €10 billion.
Landlocked Countries Seek Protection
Most EU countries supported the ban to reduce Moscow’s war funding, but landlocked states raised supply and price concerns.
Parliament initially opposed exemptions but eventually accepted them to finalize the deal.
Hungary and Slovakia plan to challenge the law, calling it illegal and contrary to EU treaties.
Prime Ministers Orbán and Fico maintain friendlier stances toward Moscow than most EU leaders.
The Parliament and Council agreed on a suspension clause, activated only if a state has less than 90% gas reserves by November 1.
Member states must draft national plans to stop Russian gas and oil imports by March 1, 2026.
Leaders Hail New Energy Era
The EU also bans imports through the TurkStream pipeline unless companies prove the gas only transited Russia or Belarus.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc enters a new era of full energy independence from Russia.
Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen insisted Europe will never return to dangerous dependence, market manipulation, or energy blackmail.
Lead lawmaker Thomas Pellerin-Carlin said the law protects jobs and prevents Russia from manipulating European energy markets.
Energy ministers will vote on December 15, followed by a plenary vote in Parliament the same week.
