Overview
- Prohibitions begin six weeks after the regulation enters into force, with short‑term LNG imports banned from April 25, 2026 and short‑term pipeline deliveries from June 17, 2026.
- All Russian LNG must end by December 31, 2026, and pipeline gas by September 30, 2027, with a possible shift to November 1, 2027 if storage targets cannot be met with non‑Russian supplies.
- The law forbids new Russian gas contracts and requires termination of existing ones, with penalties that include at least €2.5 million for individuals, at least €40 million for companies, or up to 3.5% of global annual turnover, or 300% of the transaction value.
- Member states must verify the country of origin for imported gas and file national diversification plans by March 1, 2026.
- Slovakia and Hungary voted against the law, and Hungary plans to challenge it at the European Court of Justice.