Commission chief: EU still receives energy from Russia

The European Union is moving toward full energy independence from Russia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament, highlighting that the bloc still receives a small portion of its energy from Moscow.

Von der Leyen noted that, despite years of efforts, the EU continues to import up to 13% of its gas and 2% of its oil from Russia. She emphasised that the European Commission is committed to ending all Russian energy imports once and for all, describing the transition as the start of a new era of “Euro-independence," Caliber.Az reports via Russian media. 

The European Commission chief pointed out that Russian gas imports, including both liquefied natural gas and pipeline gas, have dropped from 45% of EU consumption before the war in Ukraine to 13% today. Oil imports from Russia have fallen even more sharply, from 26% to just 2%.

The EU has taken several steps to reduce reliance on Russian energy.

In December 2022, the bloc banned imports of Russian oil, with temporary exemptions for Hungary and Slovakia. More recently, the EU Council approved a ban on all Russian gas purchases by member states starting in 2028. The European Commission also plans to propose a complete ban on Russian oil imports in 2026, followed by restrictions on nuclear fuel.

By Sabina Mammadli