By an overwhelming majority, the EU Council of Energy Ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, approved the new regulation to phase out Russian gas imports as part of the REPowerEU plan for energy independence from Russia.
The regulation provides for a legally binding phase-out for both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas, with the aim of completely ceasing imports from 1 January 2028.
Having already received the approval of the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, the regulation is expected to be ratified at the EU Leaders' Summit.
Transitional phase for existing supply contracts
The Council confirmed that imports of Russian gas will be banned from 1 January 2026, while maintaining a transitional period for existing contracts. In particular, short-term contracts concluded before 17 June 2025 can continue until 17 June 2026, while long-term contracts can be valid until 1 January 2028.
Amendments to existing contracts will only be allowed for limited operational reasons and will not be able to lead to an increase in quantities, with some exceptions for landlocked Member States affected by changes in supply routes.
How we got to today's vote
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, EU leaders agreed in the Versailles Declaration (March 2022) to end dependence on Russian fossil fuels as soon as possible.
As a result, gas and oil imports from Russia to the EU have fallen significantly in recent years. Although oil imports are set to fall below 3% by 2025, Russian gas still accounts for around 13% of EU imports, worth over €15 billion annually, leaving the Union exposed to risks to its trade and energy security.
To address this vulnerability, the European Commission adopted the REPowerEU roadmap in May 2025, in order to ensure gradual de-reliance on Russian energy and strengthen the EU's energy independence.
In June 2025, the Commission presented a proposal to phase out remaining natural gas imports via pipelines and LNG, with a complete ban by 1 January 2028.
Source: protothema.gr
