Overview

• The European Commission has announced a roadmap to phase out all Russian gas imports by 2027, building on its non-binding goal set after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
• Currently, 19% of the EU's gas supply comes from Russia, primarily through the TurkStream pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments.
• Legal experts cast doubt on the EU's exploration of force majeure clauses to exit gas contracts, as uninterrupted Russian supply undermines the argument.
• Hungary and Slovakia oppose new energy sanctions, complicating the unanimous approval required for a ban on Russian gas imports.
• Ongoing legal disputes between Gazprom and European companies over breached contracts total approximately €18.5 billion, raising financial stakes for the phase-out.