The EU Member States have taken a landmark decision regarding the ban on imports of Russian natural gas into the European bloc. Specifically, yesterday the Council of the European Union officially approved the regulation on the gradual phase-out of Russian pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports into the EU. The new rules also include measures for the effective monitoring and diversification of energy supply.
Gradual ban on imports of Russian natural gas into the EU
The regulation constitutes a key milestone in achieving the objective of REPowerEU to end the EU’s dependence on Russian energy. Under the regulation, the import of Russian pipeline gas and LNG into the EU will be prohibited. The ban will begin to apply six weeks after the regulation enters into force. Existing contracts will be subject to a transitional period. This gradual approach will limit the impact on prices and markets. The full ban will enter into force for LNG imports from the beginning of 2027 and for pipeline gas imports from autumn 2027. Before authorising the entry of gas imports into the Union, EU countries will verify the country of production of the gas.
Non-compliance with the new rules may result in maximum penalties of at least €2.5 million for natural persons and at least €40 million for companies, or at least 3.5% of a company’s total global annual turnover, or 300% of the estimated revenues from the transaction.
By 1 March 2026, EU countries must draw up national plans to diversify gas supply and identify potential challenges related to replacing Russian gas. To this end, companies will be required to notify the authorities and the Commission of any remaining contracts for Russian gas. EU countries that continue to import Russian oil will also have to submit diversification plans.
Security of supply in emergency situations
In the event of the declaration of an emergency and if security of supply is seriously threatened in one or more EU countries, the Commission may suspend the import ban for a period of up to four weeks.
Next steps
The regulation will now be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It will enter into force one day after its publication and will apply directly in all EU countries.
The Commission also plans to propose legislation to gradually phase out imports of Russian oil by the end of 2027.
It is recalled that following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the use of energy as a weapon, EU leaders agreed, in the Versailles Declaration in March 2022, to phase out dependence on Russian fossil fuels as soon as possible.
As a result, imports of gas and oil from Russia into the EU have decreased significantly in recent years. However, while oil imports fell to less than 3% in 2025 as a result of the existing sanctions regime, Russian gas still accounts for approximately 13% of EU imports in 2025, worth more than €15 billion annually. This means that the EU remains exposed to significant risks in terms of trade and its energy security.
