EU ambassadors approve gradual phase-out of Russian gas by 2027

On Wednesday, December 10, ambassadors of the European Union (COREPER I) approved a plan to gradually phase out Russian gas imports by the end of 2027.

A spokesperson for Denmark, which currently holds the EU Council presidency, confirmed the development to European Pravda, noting that “COREPER I has confirmed the agreement on the final compromise text and will now, as usual, inform the European Parliament.”

The next step is a vote in the European Parliament, expected in early 2026, after which the plan will be formally adopted by the EU Council.

The decision follows a preliminary agreement reached on December 3 between the EU Council presidency and European Parliament negotiators.

Under the approved plan, the EU will halt imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) by April 25, 2026, for short-term contracts, and by January 1, 2027, for long-term contracts.

Pipeline gas imports will be banned starting June 17, 2026, for short-term agreements. For long-term contracts, the deadline is set for September 30, 2027, provided that member states meet their storage-filling targets. If these targets are not met, the ban will take effect one month later, on November 1, 2027.

The agreement also highlights the importance of stricter monitoring of imports in situations where the risk of evading the rules is high.

Last week, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas emphasised that the agreement “will put an end to Moscow’s energy blackmail and help deprive it of revenues that fuel its war.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that the EU’s full withdrawal from Russian fossil fuels would inevitably have negative consequences for the European economy.

EU officials, however, have assured that the bloc will not return to sourcing energy from Russia, even after the war concludes.

By Tamilla Hasanova