The European Commission is set to unveil legal measures on Tuesday aimed at ending imports of Russian pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the end of 2027, in a move that would formalize the European Union’s shift away from Russian energy supplies following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
According to an internal Commission summary seen by Reuters, the proposal would ban imports of Russian pipeline gas and LNG beginning from 1 January, 2026, with extended timelines for existing contractual obligations. Short-term contracts signed before 17 June, 2025, would have a one-year grace period, ending 17 June, 2026. Long-term contracts would be banned from 1 January, 2028, effectively ending Russian gas imports to the European Union by that date.
The proposed legal structure would prevent individual member states from vetoing the plan. Unlike sanctions, which require unanimous agreement, this measure would be based on a legal mechanism that allows approval by a reinforced majority of EU countries along with the European Parliament.
Countries including Hungary and Slovakia, which continue to import Russian gas and have expressed concern over energy cost increases, have previously opposed sanctions on Russian energy. This latest proposal is designed to sidestep such opposition.
Legal protections for companies
The European Commission has also considered the potential legal implications for companies currently under contract with Russian suppliers. EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said on Monday that the measure would constitute a legal prohibition, enabling companies to invoke force majeure clauses to exit their contracts without facing penalties.
“Since this will be a prohibition, a ban, the companies will not get into legal problems. This is force majeure, as it would be if it had been a sanction,” Jorgensen told reporters.
In addition to halting imports, the EU is expected to ban LNG terminals from servicing Russian customers and require firms importing Russian gas to disclose their contracts to EU and national regulators.
Ongoing concerns and support
While most EU countries are expected to back the plan, some member states have raised concerns about potential financial penalties or arbitration claims against companies breaking long-term contracts.
As of early 2025, around 19% of EU gas supplies still originate from Russia, down from approximately 45% prior to 2022. These imports continue through the TurkStream pipeline and LNG shipments, particularly to countries such as Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Spain.
France’s industry minister Marc Ferracci has voiced conditional support.
“We fully support this plan in principle, with the aim of ensuring that we find the right solutions to provide maximum security for businesses,” explained Ferracci.
The final text of the proposal may still be subject to revisions before it is officially presented. If approved, the measure would mark a significant policy shift in the EU’s long-term energy strategy, underscoring efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Officials from more than 20 oil producing countries have agreed on a roadmap aimed at strengthening international oil industry cooperation at a meetin...
Peace. Prosperity. New political forces. A technology-driven economy. Following Armenia’s parliamentary election, AnewZ took to the streets of Yerev...
As the 2026 Fifa World Cup tournament draws to a close, there’s much to anticipate and yet so much to look back at. ...
Officials from more than 20 oil producing countries have agreed on a roadmap aimed at strengthening international oil industry cooperation at a meeting in Azerbaijan.
Peace. Prosperity. New political forces. A technology-driven economy. Following Armenia’s parliamentary election, AnewZ took to the streets of Yerevan to ask people how they imagine their country five years from now.
As the 2026 Fifa World Cup tournament draws to a close, there’s much to anticipate and yet so much to look back at.
At least 11 people have been killed and 19 injured in a fire at an orphanage on the outskirts of the Algerian capital, state media reported. The blaze broke out early on Thursday at the institution in the eastern suburbs of Algiers.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on all Iranian ports and warned that power plants and bridges could be targeted next week unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
The United States carried out a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, targeting military capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a blockade on Iranian shipping and proposed a 20% fee on cargo passing through the strategic waterway.
The death toll from the fire at a live music pub in Bangkok has climbed to 32 after two more victims died from their injuries, according to Thailand's Police Hospital.
Ukraine and Russia exchanged fresh attacks on Tuesday, with Kyiv targeting shipping and energy infrastructure inside Russia while Moscow launched another large-scale missile and drone assault on Ukrainian cities.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
At least 11 people have been killed and 19 injured in a fire at an orphanage on the outskirts of the Algerian capital, state media reported. The blaze broke out early on Thursday at the institution in the eastern suburbs of Algiers.
A woman whose husband was sucked out of the window of a plane during a Ryanair flight has recounted pulling her husband to safety. Serbian couple Svetlana Maksimovic and Ljubisa Karovic had just settled into a flight with the airline last week, when a loud bang pierced the hum of engines.
Russia launched a fresh wave of missile strikes on Ukraine early on Thursday, saying it had hit military and industrial facilities in Kyiv, as well as key port infrastructure in the southern Odesa region.
Uganda is expected to discharge its final Ebola patient on Thursday, beginning the 42-day countdown required before the country can be declared free of the virus if no new cases emerge, according to a government spokesperson.
The U.S. Coast Guard has called off its search for three people missing after a pontoon boat capsized near Alcatraz, leaving four people dead or presumed dead.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment