Given its dedication to shake off the shackles of dependence on Russian oil and fuel imports, the European Union (EU) has determined to put down the regulation on these fossil fuels by holding the road on the proposed gradual ban on imports of pipeline fuel and liquefied pure fuel (LNG) from subsequent 12 months, with oil anticipated to undergo the identical destiny in 2027 in response to what’s being portrayed as Russia’s systematic weaponisation of vitality provides.
Following a draft laws, adopted on October 16, 2025, by the Committees on Business, Analysis and Vitality and on Worldwide Commerce to ban imports of Russian pipeline fuel and LNG from January 1, 2026, with exceptions for current short-term contracts till June 17, 2026, and long-term offers till January 1, 2027, a brand new regulation was adopted on December 18, 2025, to guard the EU’s vitality safety from the so-called weaponisation by the Russian Federation.
This sample is perceived to have been documented over almost 20 years and noticed to escalate with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which got here with additional allegedly deliberate market manipulation, together with Gazprom’s unprecedented underfilling of EU storage amenities and abrupt halts to pipelines, inflicting vitality costs to spike by as much as eight instances their pre-crisis ranges.
With this in thoughts, the members of the European Parliament (MEPs) opted to approve the gradual ban on pipeline and liquefied pure fuel imports as of subsequent 12 months. The laws, already agreed with Council, was adopted with 500 votes to 120, with 32 abstentions. This regulation will now need to be formally endorsed by Council earlier than publication within the Official Journal.
On account of this laws transfer, spot-market Russian LNG will probably be banned from the EU as soon as the regulation enters into pressure in early 2026, whereas pipeline fuel imports will probably be phased out by September 30, 2027. Throughout negotiations, the co-legislators superior the phase-out timelines for many import contracts. The brand new regulation establishes penalties to be enforced by member states towards operators for infringements.
Throughout negotiations with the Danish presidency of the Council, MEPs additionally pushed for the banning of all imports of Russian oil and secured a dedication by the European Fee to current laws for this in early 2026, so an efficient ban might be enforced as quickly as attainable and no later than late-2027.
Ville Niinistö (Greens/EFA, Finland), MEP for the Business, Analysis and Vitality Committee (ITRE), commented: “That is historic: the EU is taking a large step in the direction of a brand new period freed from Russian fuel and oil. Russia can by no means once more use fossil gas exports as a weapon towards Europe. Our key priorities have been to speed up the timeline for banning pipeline fuel as a lot as attainable, prohibit long-term LNG contracts one 12 months sooner than foreseen, and stop circumvention of those new guidelines.
“Now, we should act directly to implement this settlement and switch our consideration to grease imports, the place we’ll maintain the European Fee to its dedication to make a proposal early in 2026.”
As well as, the MEPs pushed for stricter situations below which a short lived suspension of the import ban can happen in emergency conditions in relation to EU vitality safety. Operators should present customs authorities with stricter and extra detailed proof of the nation of manufacturing of their fuel earlier than its import or storage to shut loopholes and mitigate the chance that the foundations are being circumvented.
Inese Vaidere (EPP, Latvia), Lead MEP for the Worldwide Commerce Committee, underlined: “Right now’s vote sends a transparent and highly effective message: Europe won’t ever once more be depending on Russian fuel. It is a main achievement for the EU and a historic turning level in European vitality coverage.
“Now we have strengthened the European Fee’s preliminary proposal by introducing a pathway in the direction of a ban on oil and its merchandise, ending long-term contracts prior to initially proposed, and securing penalties for non-compliance.”
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