The Council of the European Union (EU) today took the position that the import of Russian gas into EU countries should be banned from January 1, 2026, which also applies to the transit of this energy source through the EU to third countries.
EU energy ministers reached an agreement at a meeting in Luxembourg on a negotiating position for a draft regulation on the gradual cessation of imports of Russian natural gas, the EU Council announced.
Once the European Parliament defines its negotiating position, the Presidency of the Council of the EU will start negotiations with that legislative body on the final text of the regulation.
The regulation, which is a key element of the EU's plan to end its dependence on Russian energy, introduces a legally binding, gradual ban on gas imports from Russia, with a full ban coming into effect from January 1, 2028.
The negotiating position of the EU Council includes the position that short-term contracts concluded before June 17, 2025 can be implemented by June 17, 2026, and long-term contracts by January 1, 2028.
Amendments to existing contracts will only be allowed for narrowly defined operational purposes and cannot lead to an increase in volume, except for some specific flexibilities for landlocked EU members affected by recent changes in supply routes, it said.
The statement also states that additional monitoring and notification mechanisms have been introduced to prevent Russian gas from entering the EU under transit procedures - the passage of gas through the Union on its way to another destination, without entering the EU market.
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