The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have agreed on a binding timetable to phase out Russian natural gas, marking one of the bloc’s most significant steps yet to cut energy ties with Moscow.
The measure, which still requires formal approval by both institutions, will introduce a gradual ban on imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and pipeline gas, with the final cut-off scheduled for 2027.
According to the Council, the regulation is intended to eliminate Europe’s remaining dependence on Russian gas and strengthen the EU’s energy security following Moscow’s use of energy as political leverage. The agreement includes a permanent legal framework rather than the renewable sanctions packages used since 2022.
Under the deal, imports of Russian LNG will be banned from the start of 2027 for long-term contracts and earlier for short-term deals. Pipeline gas imports must end between September and November 2027, depending on whether member states meet EU gas storage targets. Amendments to existing contracts will be permitted only for operational reasons and cannot increase gas volumes.
In its announcement on Wednesday, Brussels cited a “safety fuse” mechanism that allows for temporary, strictly limited exemptions if a member state declares a gas supply emergency. In such cases, the European Commission could authorize short-term Russian gas imports to address immediate shortages. The clause can be activated only under narrow conditions and for a limited period.
The regulation also introduces an authorization system for all gas imports to prevent circumvention of the Russian ban. Countries that exported more than 5 billion cubic metres of gas to the EU in 2024 and restrict Russian imports, as well as states without import infrastructure, will be exempt from this procedure.
Each member state will be required to submit a national diversification plan setting out how it will eliminate Russian gas from its supply mix and, where relevant, how it will phase out Russian oil imports as well. The European Commission intends to propose legislation to end imports of Russian oil by the end of 2027.
Slovakia and Hungary, the two EU states most dependent on Russian energy, opposed the regulation but cannot block its adoption. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico called the decision “harmful for Slovakia and the entire EU” and said his government would study whether grounds exist for a legal challenge. He also criticized Brussels for failing to deliver on commitments made to Bratislava during previous negotiations.
The agreement was announced as leaders of the Visegrád Group gathered in Esztergom, Hungary. Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki, whose visit was shortened to a single day, joined the presidents of Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia for discussions focused on economic cooperation, EU policy, and regional energy security.
Marcin Przydacz, head of the Polish president’s international policy office, said the V4 meeting would include talks on resisting further centralization within the EU, addressing the migration pact, and strengthening energy links between Central European states.
The summit took place in Esztergom, a city central to Hungarian history and close to Visegrád, the location that gave the regional alliance its name. The meeting followed renewed scrutiny of Hungary’s energy ties after Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent trip to Moscow.
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