Overview
- Energy ministers approved a Council position to phase out both pipeline gas and LNG from Russia, with a full ban taking effect on January 1, 2028, pending Parliament’s consent.
- New Russian gas contracts would be prohibited from January 1, 2026, with pre‑June 17, 2025 deals allowed to run only to June 17, 2026 for short‑term and to January 1, 2028 for long‑term.
- The draft adds anti‑circumvention controls, including prior authorizations (one month for Russian gas, five days for non‑Russian), stricter origin documentation, mixed‑cargo disclosures, and extra monitoring.
- The European Parliament is pressing for an earlier cutoff on January 1, 2027 and tougher enforcement measures, with inter‑institutional negotiations to shape the final regulation.
- Hungary and Slovakia voted against and cite supply and contract risks, though the Council text includes specific flexibilities for landlocked states and officials point to alternative supplies and limited price effects estimated at roughly 5–10% in the midterm.