(Montel) The European Commission will present a roadmap early next year to end Russian gas imports into the EU before 2027, proposed Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen told MEPs.
“I have a clear ambition to go faster” than the European Commission’s current goal of phasing out Russian gas imports by 2027 in response to the war in Ukraine, he said during his hearing before the European Parliament on Tuesday evening.
“We used to get 45% of our gas from Russia. Now we are at 18%. But 18% is still too much,” he said.
“As quickly as possible”
The future commissioner said he could not commit to ending Russian imports next year, but said he would work as quickly as possible to achieve this.
“We need to be independent of Russian fuels tomorrow rather than the day after tomorrow,” said the former MEP and Danish Minister of Energy and Climate.
He did not give any specific details on the content of the roadmap, but added that electrification would hold an important place.
Parliament currently plans to elect President von der Leyen’s new team of EU commissioners for her second five-year term between November 25 and 28. The commissioners are expected to take office in December.
Mr Jorgensen promised MEPs he would present a roadmap for moving away from Russian fuel within 100 days of taking office – potentially by the end of February.
Plan d’action
He pledged to present an action plan for EU electrification and a green energy investment plan during his mandate, as part of a longer-term strategy for decarbonize and improve security of energy supply.
The EU has replaced much of its gas transported by pipeline from Russia with American liquefied natural gas in its quest to diversify supplies since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022. The bloc has also reduced its demand for gas and ensured that its underground gas storages were full before winter.
These questions would remain a priority, Mr Jorgensen assured MEPs last month in his responses to their written questions before his hearing.
If elected, the proposed commissioner would also be responsible for reviewing the EU’s security of energy supply framework to simplify it and enable “an orderly and affordable exit from fossil fuels”, he said at the time.
It also plans to work with national governments to protect energy supplies against physical threats and cyberattacks.
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