EU plans new Russian fuel ban regardless of opposition | EUROtoday

The European Commission is anticipated to suggest a ban on EU imports of Russian fuel and liquefied pure fuel by the tip of 2027, using authorized measures to make sure member states resembling Hungary and Slovakia can not block the plan.

These proposals will define how the European Union intends to solidify its dedication to finish long-standing vitality ties with Russia, its former high fuel provider, following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

According to an inner Commission abstract seen by Reuters, the proposal would legally implement a ban on imports of Russian pipeline fuel and LNG from January 1, 2026, with prolonged deadlines for particular contracts.

Short-term Russian fuel offers signed earlier than June 17, 2025, would have a one-year transition interval, expiring on June 17, 2026.

Imports below current long-term Russian contracts would then be prohibited from January 1, 2028, successfully ending the EU’s reliance on Russian fuel by this date.

Companies like TotalEnergies and Spain’s Naturgy have Russian LNG contracts extending into the 2030s.

EU LNG terminals would additionally face a gradual ban on offering companies to Russian clients, and corporations importing Russian fuel could be required to reveal their contract info to EU and nationwide authorities.

The plans might nonetheless change earlier than they’re revealed.

EU vitality commissioner Dan Jorgensen mentioned on Monday the measures had been designed to be legally robust sufficient for corporations to invoke the contractual clause of “force majeure” – an unforeseeable occasion – to interrupt their Russian fuel contracts.

“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 informed reporters.

Slovakia and Hungary, which have sought to take care of shut political ties to Russia, nonetheless import Russian fuel through pipeline and say switching to alternate options would improve vitality costs. They have vowed to dam sanctions on Russian vitality, which require unanimous approval from all EU international locations, and have opposed the ban.

To get round this, the Commission’s proposals will use an EU authorized foundation that may be handed with help from a bolstered majority of nations and a majority of the European Parliament, EU officers mentioned.

While most different EU international locations have signalled help for the ban, officers mentioned some importing international locations have raised considerations in regards to the threat to corporations of economic penalties or arbitration for breaking contracts.

Around 19 per cent of Europe’s fuel nonetheless comes from Russia, through the TurkStream pipeline and LNG shipments – down from roughly 45 per cent earlier than 2022. Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Spain are amongst those who import Russian LNG.

“We fully support this plan in principle, with the aim of ensuring that we find the right solutions to provide maximum security for businesses,” French business minister Marc Ferracci informed reporters on Monday.