The EU will gradually and effectively stop the import of Russian gas and oil by the end of 2027, under a legislative proposal put forward by the European Commission today. This will end the EU’s exposure to market and economic security risks due to dependency on Russian fossil fuels, and ultimately boost the Union’s energy independence and competitiveness.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “Russia has repeatedly attempted to blackmail us by weaponising its energy supplies. We have taken clear steps to turn off the tap and end the era of Russian fossil fuels in Europe for good.”
Today’s legislative proposal follows the REPowerEU Roadmap, which the Commission adopted last month. It sets out an EU-wide plan to phase-out Russian gas imports in a gradual and well-coordinated manner, in a spirit of solidarity, while pursuing the clean transition. Today’s proposal has been designed to preserve the security of the EU’s energy supply, while limiting any impact on prices and markets, as explained in the accompanying analysis.
The remaining Russian gas volumes can be phased out without significant economic impact or risks to security of supply, due to the availability of sufficient alternative suppliers in the global gas market, a well interconnected Union gas market and the availability of sufficient import infrastructure in the EU. In addition, today’s proposal has built-in safeguards to respond to the reality of the gas markets while providing companies with a solid legal framework.
Overall, the phase-out of Russian fossil fuels will make an important contribution to the objectives of the Competitiveness Compass, the Clean Industrial Deal and the Affordable Energy Action Plan, which underlined how a cleaner and independent energy systemhelps boost the economy, while also supporting Europe’s decarbonisation ambitions.
A gradual and coordinated phase-out of Russian fossil fuels
The proposed Regulation provides a stepwise phase-out of pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) originating in or exported directly or indirectly from the Russian Federation. It also presents measures to facilitate the complete stop of Russian oil imports by the end of 2027.
Member States will be required to present diversification plans with precise measures and milestones for the gradual elimination of Russian gas and oil imports.
Under the envisaged gradual import ban, Russian gas imports under new contracts will be prohibited as of 1 January 2026. Imports under existing short-term contracts will be stopped by 17 June 2026, except those for pipeline gas delivered to land-locked countries and linked to long-term contracts which will be allowed until the end of 2027. Imports under long-term contracts will be stopped by the end of 2027.
Long-term contracts for LNG terminal services for customers from Russia or controlled by Russian undertakings will also be prohibited. This will ensure that terminal capacity can be redirected to alternative suppliers, ultimately enhancing energy markets’ resilience.
This stepwise approach will help to effectively halt the importation of Russian gas, while limiting possible impacts on energy prices in the Union and avoiding any risk for security of supply. The Commission will support the Member States throughout the entire process. It will monitor closely, together with EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), the progress and impacts of the phase-out of Russian gas and oil imports. In case the security of supply of one or more Member States is threatened, the Commission can take necessary emergency measures.
Provisions to enhance the transparency, monitoring, and traceability of Russian gas within EU markets will support the effective implementation of the import ban. Under the proposed Regulation, companies holding gas supply contracts for Russian gas will have to provide information to the Commission. In addition, importers of Russian gas will have to provide customs authorities with all necessary information confirming the path of the imported gas from its actual origin up to the point of import into the Union.
Next steps
The proposed Regulation will follow the co-decision legislative process, meaning that it will be for the European Parliament and Council to adopt it. Adoption in the Council will require qualified majority.
The Commission will continue to work very closely with the Member States on diversification efforts and infrastructure improvements, especially with those that are the most impacted.
Background
EU Leaders agreed on the phase-out of Russian energy in the Versailles Declaration of March 2022. As an immediate response to the war in Ukraine and Russia’s weaponisation of energy supplies, the European Commission put forward the REPowerEU Plan in May 2022.
Despite the significant progress achieved under the REPowerEU Plan and via sanctions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in 2024 the EU saw a rebound in Russian gas imports. Therefore, in May 2025, the Commission put forward the REPowerEU Roadmap, a plan setting out the EU-wide phase-out of Russian energy imports.
