France urges tighter monitoring of Russian gas exports to EU

France has called for improved identification of companies shipping Russian gas at EU ports to curb the influx of Russian fossil fuels.

Along with nine other countries, including Austria and the Czech Republic, France circulated a paper ahead of an EU energy ministers’ meeting, urging the European Commission to mandate clear identification of suppliers when Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes are unloaded, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

French Energy Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher emphasized the need for transparency regarding LNG flows to “remove this dependency.” Despite EU efforts to reduce reliance on Russian fossil fuels, imports from Russia rose 11 per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2024.

France, Spain, and Belgium accounted for 87 per cent of Europe’s Russian LNG imports during this period, with imports to France more than doubling, while those to Belgium dropped by 16 per cent. Belgium is working on a mechanism to trace LNG origins, allowing for potential tracking and restriction of Russian LNG.

Once in the EU, the final destination of Russian gas becomes difficult to trace due to mixing with other gas sources and commercial contracts. Belgium emphasized that an EU country receiving Russian gas must confirm its necessity for energy supply and called for coordinated efforts from the European Commission.

Hungary has hindered efforts to limit Russian fuel flows, resisting sanctions and extending deals with Gazprom. Budapest recently signed an agreement with Gazprom to continue Russian gas flows through the Turkish pipeline route.

Discussions about extending Ukraine's contract for gas transit are sensitive, as Ukraine relies on this revenue. Sven Giegold, Germany’s state secretary for economic affairs, expressed concern over the increase in Russian fuel imports, urging the Commission to present a roadmap to eliminate all fuel imports from Russia.

The EU took steps in June to restrict Russian LNG by sanctioning transshipments from EU ports, but countries like the Netherlands worry this ban may inadvertently increase shipments into the EU, as they can no longer be re-exported.

By Tamilla Hasanova