This initiative includes a full ban on Russian gas and LNG imports by the end of 2027, in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine and to enhance European energy security.
EU Aims to Eliminate Russian Gas Imports by 2027
EU Aims to Eliminate Russian Gas Imports by 2027
The European Commission unveils a strategic plan to phase out Russian energy dependence within the next few years.
The European Commission has outlined an ambitious "roadmap" aimed at completely severing Europe’s energy ties with Russia by the conclusion of 2027. The plan dictates that all forms of Russian gas, along with liquefied natural gas (LNG), will be effectively banned across the European Union (EU) member states. "No more will we permit Russia to weaponise energy against us... No more will we indirectly help fill up the [Kremlin's] war chests," asserted European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jorgensen during a recent press conference in Strasbourg.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reacted to the proposed measures on Tuesday, characterizing them as harmful to European interests. This decisive move follows the EU’s pledge to diminish its energy partnerships with Russia amid the latter's full-scale invasion of Ukraine initiated in 2022.
In June, a set of legislative proposals will be introduced, compelling EU member states to devise national plans to phase out imports of not only Russian gas but also nuclear fuel and oil. Member states will have until the end of 2027 to submit comprehensive strategies for replacing their existing Russian oil imports. Furthermore, nations are encouraged to outline their frameworks for reducing dependence on Russian uranium and enriched uranium, among other nuclear materials.
To facilitate this transition, the EU aims to bolster energy efficiency, accelerate the integration of renewable energy sources, and diversify energy supplies. While progress has been made in decreasing reliance on Russian oil and gas since the onset of the conflict, the bloc still finds itself dependent on considerable energy imports from the region. EU gas imports from Russia have already plummeted from 45% in 2021 to 19% projected for 2024. Similarly, Russian oil imports have decreased from 27% early in 2022 to a mere 3% currently.
While recognizing the improvements, Jorgensen emphasized that immediate action is necessary to reduce the EU’s residue dependence on Russian nuclear supplies, noting that more than 14% of the EU's uranium is still sourced from Russia as of 2024. The roadmap underscores the potential economic security risks posed by this reliance and its inadvertent financial support for Russia's military actions.
Jorgensen concluded that the initiative to phase out Russian energy supplies would be implemented in a deliberate and gradual manner to mitigate social and economic repercussions across the EU. The strategy also identifies measures to tackle Russia's use of "shadow fleets," clandestine oil tankers with ambiguous ownership, used to sustain oil exports and evade existing sanctions.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reacted to the proposed measures on Tuesday, characterizing them as harmful to European interests. This decisive move follows the EU’s pledge to diminish its energy partnerships with Russia amid the latter's full-scale invasion of Ukraine initiated in 2022.
In June, a set of legislative proposals will be introduced, compelling EU member states to devise national plans to phase out imports of not only Russian gas but also nuclear fuel and oil. Member states will have until the end of 2027 to submit comprehensive strategies for replacing their existing Russian oil imports. Furthermore, nations are encouraged to outline their frameworks for reducing dependence on Russian uranium and enriched uranium, among other nuclear materials.
To facilitate this transition, the EU aims to bolster energy efficiency, accelerate the integration of renewable energy sources, and diversify energy supplies. While progress has been made in decreasing reliance on Russian oil and gas since the onset of the conflict, the bloc still finds itself dependent on considerable energy imports from the region. EU gas imports from Russia have already plummeted from 45% in 2021 to 19% projected for 2024. Similarly, Russian oil imports have decreased from 27% early in 2022 to a mere 3% currently.
While recognizing the improvements, Jorgensen emphasized that immediate action is necessary to reduce the EU’s residue dependence on Russian nuclear supplies, noting that more than 14% of the EU's uranium is still sourced from Russia as of 2024. The roadmap underscores the potential economic security risks posed by this reliance and its inadvertent financial support for Russia's military actions.
Jorgensen concluded that the initiative to phase out Russian energy supplies would be implemented in a deliberate and gradual manner to mitigate social and economic repercussions across the EU. The strategy also identifies measures to tackle Russia's use of "shadow fleets," clandestine oil tankers with ambiguous ownership, used to sustain oil exports and evade existing sanctions.
