Russian gas imports to be banned in the EU

The European Commission today urged the EU to disengage as soon as possible from Russian fuels that it continues to import.

This particularly concerns uranium and gas, and involves taking measures such as progressively banning new gas contracts with Moscow and dismantling existing contracts to cease purchases by 2027. The message sent to Russia is clear:

"Your member states will no longer be blackmailed. Euros will no longer fill your war chest. Your gas will be banned. Your ghost fleet will be halted," said Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy, at a press conference.

As these aren't sanctions, they don't require the support of all member states, but only a qualified majority, which would avoid a hypothetical veto from Hungary. Banning Russian energy would prevent the following paradox: the EU actively supports Ukraine in its defence against Russia while in 2024 it paid Moscow €23 billion for its energy imports.

(Mh with AnVa - Source: agency - Photo: © Unsplash)