The European Union has formally approved a regulation to phase out imports of Russian pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas by autumn 2025. This finalizes a regulatory process initiated in May 2023 and delivers on a 2022 pledge made following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The move is intended to strengthen, diversify, and increase the resilience of the EU energy market by ending what is described as a detrimental reliance on Russian gas.

Context and Rationale

The decision stems from the EU's agreement to phase out Russian fossil fuels as swiftly as possible after the 2022 invasion. While the bloc has reduced Russian oil imports to under 3%, Russian gas still constituted an estimated 13% of EU imports last year, a situation the EU Council states leaves the union exposed to significant trade and energy security risks. A separate plan to prohibit Russian crude oil imports from 2027 is also progressing through the EU regulatory process.

Shifting Dependencies and Energy Strategy

Although dependence on Russian gas has decreased in recent years, the EU has concurrently increased its reliance on US LNG. EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen questioned the economic sustainability of importing fossil fuels worth over 400 billion euros annually into the EU, advocating instead for domestic renewable energy production. He emphasized that the EU's strategy is to become free of gas and avoid replacing one dependency with another, even as he expressed a desire to trade with the US on many issues.

Focus on Renewable Alternatives

The push away from Russian gas is coupled with a focus on expanding renewable energy. At the North Sea Summit, an agreement to build out offshore wind energy between the EU, Norway, and the UK was welcomed. UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband highlighted offshore wind as critical for energy security and a means to escape the volatility of fossil fuels. This contrasts with the approach of some countries, like Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands, which have committed to expanding domestic oil and gas production to mitigate import risks, while the UK is emphasizing renewables and winding down its North Sea upstream industry.