Since the Russian invasion in Ukraine, the European Union has established an embargo on Russian oil at the end of 2022 and then has tried to dry up its gas supply by gas pipeline. But the EU has partially turned towards liquefied natural gas (LNG), transported by ship, unloaded in ports, regzéified then injected into the European gas network.
Diversify supplies
And behind the United States (45.3 %), Russia occupies a large place with almost 20 % of EU LNG imports in 2024 (17.5 % according to Eurostat and 19 % according to IEEFA, a specialized reflection center).
In an attempt 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.
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.
“We all agree to say that we have to get rid of Putin gas”, but the European plan to do without Russian energy “has been delayed because of the geopolitical situation,” deplored the Danish centrist MEP Sigrid Friis (Renew).
France on the front line
And it was not until May 1 that the European Commissioner in charge of Commerce, Maros Sefcovic, suggests again in an interview with the “Financial Times” to “resolve very quickly” the dispute with the Trump administration thanks to purchases of American LNG or agricultural products like soy.
In the corridors of the Commission, we recognize that the discussions were particularly sensitive on the subject. Because some member states like Hungary do not hide their proximity to Russia. And some countries are more dependent than others in Moscow LNG.
France is, for example, on the front line with its five regzéification terminals including that of Dunkirk. According to the IEEFA, it increased its Russian LNG imports by 81 % between 2023 and 2024 and paid 2.68 billion euros to Russia.
An embargo against liquefied gas?
Nothing has so far filtered the plan which must be presented this Tuesday. Will there be a proposal for an embargo against Russian liquefied gas in more or less long term?
“This option could be very difficult to implement” because it requires the unanimity of the 27, explains Simone Tagliapietra, specialist in European questions at the Bruegel reflection center. Given this constraint, a significant increase in customs duties on all imports of Russian gas (gas pipelines and LNG) “could be the most viable option for the EU,” he said.
Beyond this sensitive subject of liquefied gas, the European Commission continues to underline all the efforts which have been made to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels since the invasion of Ukraine.
