(Updated all along)
The European Commission will offer next month the ban on new Russian gas contracts by the end of the year and a ban on imports within the framework of existing contracts with Moscow by the end of 2027, according to a document project consulted by Reuters on Tuesday.
The document, which will be published Tuesday, presents the “roadmap” detailing the way in which the EU plans to end its energy relationship with Russia, as a result of its large -scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The roadmap project, which can be modified before its publication, specifies that the EU executive body will present its legal proposals in June, which will have to be approved by the European Parliament and by a qualified majority of EU countries.
“If it is implemented in accordance with the developments of the global market and reliable suppliers, the gradual abolition of Russian gas imports should have a limited impact on energy prices and the security of supply in Europe,” read the document project.
Contacted by Reuters, a spokesperson for the European Commission refused to comment.
This document project also provides for European companies’ obligation to disclose the volumes and the duration of their Russian gas supply contracts.
However, it does not specify which legal options the EU plans to use to allow companies to break their gas contracts with Russia without incurring sanctions.
EU member states will be required to develop national plans for the progressive elimination of Russian gas, and oil in the case of Slovakia and Hungary, which import even more than 80% of their oil from Russia.
About 19% of European gas still comes from Russia, via the Turkstream pipeline and liquefied natural gas shipments – compared to around 45% before 2022.
(Written by Kate Abnett, Lili Bayer, French version Blandine Hénault and Etienne Breban, edited by Augustin Turpin)
