By the end of 2027, the European Union countries are to finally end with the import of Russian fossil fuels. On Tuesday in Brussels A new program was announced – a “road map”, which sets directions of changes in the energy sector. In this abandonment of Russian fuels. At the moment, import from Russia accounts for about 13 percent. whole.
According to the proposal of the European Commission, from the end of this year, the ban on new contracts for the purchase of gas and as part of one -time transactions on an ongoing basis will become effective. This is about a third of imports. Also next month tools are to be accepted that will allow the other long -term contracts to end, but it will last more than two years. – At the end of 2027 we will be free from Russian fuels – assured at a press conference Energy Commission Dan Jørgensen. He added that in the last few years EU countries have spent as much fuel on Russian fuels as it would be enough to buy 2,500 fighters.
The process of cutting off the import of fossil fuels from Russia began just after the full -scale invasion of Ukraine. The first – and the easiest – of them were coal. The abandonment of Russian oil, especially gas, turned out to be much more difficult.
In 2024 some European countries they not only bought from Russia Liquefied LNG gas – its imports increased compared to the previous year. – Every day, when the EU delays bright goals and hard funds, such as embargo at LNG or trade restrictions, billions are still flowing into the Kremlin's war treasury, and Ukrainian cities are increasingly destroyed – said Dr. Svitlana Romanko, founder of the Razom organizations at Stand. She emphasized that the European one presented on Tuesday “map Road “to end the import of fossil fuels from Russia is” not only a matter of climate activities, but also “Peace and Safety for the inhabitants of Ukraine and Europe”.
The package of legal acts proposed by the Commission must be adopted by a majority of EU countries. This means that – unlike in the case of sanctions – Unanimity is not needed. And even if a country does not agree, after being admitted it will have to adapt to the rules.
We are still buying Russian LNG
Before 2022, Russian gas flowed primarily with pipelines, and replacing it with fuel, e.g. from the USA or the Middle East, required another infrastructure – adapted for importing liquefied gas LNG.
The participation of Russian pipeline gas in imports to the EU fell from over 40 percent. in 2021 to about 8 percent In 2023, and from January 1, 2025, fuel transport through Ukraine ended. However, Russian gas – in the vast majority in form – still goes to some European ports.
As he points out Bloomberg“road map” to completely cut off from Russian fuels was to be published earlier this year. This was delayed, however, to assess the actions taken by the administration of Donald Trump towards Ukraine and Russia.
The Union also wants to hit the Russian “Shadow Fleet”, which is used to celebrate Western sanctions.
In addition to mine fuels, the EC also announced restrictions on the import of enriched uranium from Russia and the introduction of mandatory diversification of nuclear fuel. “To guarantee the security of deliveries, it will be introduced gradually,” said Dan Jørgensen.
From the gas pipeline under the gutter?
The gradual abandonment of gas imports from Russia means that the demand for energy must be covered in a different way. In a short term, this means, among others Imports from other directions. And so the gas pipelines were largely replaced by gas and LNG terminals, which are caused by gas from Qatar, Algeria, Nigeria – but above all from the United States. Therefore, the EU decision to completely cut off from Russia fuel can be satisfied with Donald Trump, who wants to increase fuel exports.
Meanwhile, as Tatiana Mindekov pointed out, an analyst at Think-Tank Ember, “instead of switching one relationship with another, we need a definite commitment to finish importing from Russia, larger investments in renewable energy sources and wiser use of existing infrastructure.”
According to analysts, changing addiction to one supplier for another is to fall from the rain under the gutter, not a solution to the problem. Even when you don't talk about a country with hostile intentions, imports are still problematic for many reasons. First of all – this still exposes energy security, because deliveries can be sabotaged or blocked. Secondly, this means that billions of euros flow from the EU to foreign countries and supply their economy. Finally, gas – regardless of where it comes from – is fossil fuel and its combustion contributes to the warming of the climate.
– Replacing Russian gas in American LNG is a geopolitical gambling, and thus worsens EU energy security. Billions of euros peded every year on gas import can be better spent on a European economy in a way that will reduce the need for gas: by increasing electrification, isolating houses and dealing with energy poverty – emphasized Linda Kalcher, director of Think -Tanku Strategic Perspectives.
Commissioner Jørgensen said – just like the analysts repeat – that we must become independent not only from fuels from Russia, but from importing fuels in general. Therefore, quick decarbonization is necessary. Jørgensen also emphasized that a reduction in fossil fuel consumption will bring hundreds of billion euros savings, and the money will be in EU countries and will be able to be used for other purposes.
Gas destroying climate
Gas is often presented as a cleaner alternative to coal, or “bridge fuel”, which we will use between high -emission coal and pure energy sources. However, as prof. Robert Howarth from Cornell University, his tests They showed that the American LNG has a larger carbon trail than any other fossil fuel.
The burning of gas itself emits less carbon dioxide per unit of energy than carbon. However, this is only a part – or even a smaller part – total greenhouse gas emissions. These also appear when extracting, processing and transporting gas. Natural gas is in the vast majority of methane, which is a greenhouse gas itself, and its release during extraction and transport contributes to climate change.
– If the goal is to ensure clean and safe energy, we must quickly move away from all fossil fuels, including LNG, while increasing the scale of domestic renewable energy – said prof. Howarth.