Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is delivered to the Fos-sur-Mer terminal, in the Bouches-du-Rhône, June 22, 2023 (AFP / Clement Mahoudeau)
The European Commission unveiled its plan on Tuesday to definitively put an end to the imports of Russian gas by the end of 2027, a difficult challenge as the dependence of Europe remains important.
More than three years after the invasion of Ukraine, “it is now time for Europe to completely break its energy ties” with Russia by Vladimir Putin, launched the president of the Ursula von der Leyen commission.
The European executive proposes to act in stages: the prohibition of new contracts and short contracts (spot) existing with Russian companies at the end of 2025, then the extinction of all imports of gas since Russia two years later.
Several times postponed before its presentation on Tuesday to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, this roadmap will be subject to the member states and parliament.
The discussions promise to be sensitive against the background of fears of a new outbreak of energy prices.
Admittedly, the share of imports of Russian gas in the European Union increased from 45% in 2021 to 19% in 2024.
To try to do without Russian energy, “the guiding principle is the diversification of supplies,” said a spokesperson for the Commission, Paula Pinho, a few days ago (AFP / Barbara Sax)
But if the EU has endeavored to reduce its supplies by gas pipeline, it has partly turned towards liquefied natural gas (LNG), transported by ship, unloaded in ports, regasified then injected into the European network.
Imports in this area reach records. Behind the United States (45%), Russia occupies a central place with 20% of EU LNG imports in 2024, or 20 billion cubic meters on the hundred billions imported.
The march will be high, while the commission promised in 2022 to do without Russian fossil fuels “by 2027”.
One of the major challenges will be the diversification of supplies.
The EU had mentioned several months ago the possibility of further increasing its American LNG imports. But trade tensions with the United States of Donald Trump have scrambled the cards.
– France, gateway –
It was not until May 1 that the European Commissioner in charge of Commerce, Maros Sefcovic, suggests again to “resolve very quickly” the dispute with the Trump administration thanks to purchases of American LNG or agricultural products like soy.
-The President of the United States had put strong pressure from the Europeans in early April by claiming massive American energy orders, up to $ 350 billion (309 billion euros).
“The Commission is likely to replace a disastrous dependence by another – disconnect Putin gas and plug that of Trump,” is alarmed by the Greenpeace environmental organization, which pleads for energy savings and the development of renewables.
In an interview with AFP, the European Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen mentions “the wide range” of producing countries: Norway, Qatar, North Africa … “We do not want to depend on any country, including the United States,” he said.
How will the member states position themselves? Some like Hungary do not hide their proximity to Moscow. The EU plan is “a very serious error,” reacted the Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijarto.
In order to wear from Russian gas, the commission has taken the lead by opting for a legislative proposal – which can be adopted by qualified majority – rather than a new sanctions train, which would require the unanimity of the 27.
Brussels will also have to manage the increasing dependence of certain countries with Russian LNG.
Giant gas storage reservoirs of the Cavaou GNL terminal in Fos-sur-Mer, June 22, 2023 (AFP / Clement Mahoudeau)
France is on the front line with its five regzéification terminals. According to the IEEFA reflection group, it increased its Russian LNG imports between 2023 and 2024 by 81 % and paid 2.68 billion euros to Russia.
Dan Jorgensen deplores the hundreds of billion spent by European countries since the start of the war. “We bought Russian gas for an amount greater than that of the aid that we have brought to Ukraine,” he said.
( AFP / Jonathan WALTER )
Beyond the gas, the EU recalls the efforts that have been made to end Russian oil dependence, with an embargo in late 2022.
With its new roadmap, Brussels promises new actions against the Russian ghost fleet, often aging oil ships operated under a foreign pavilion, accused of being used to bypass Western sanctions.
Measures against imports of Russian enriched uranium are also mentioned for the month of June.
