EU Finalizes 2027 Deadline for Complete Phase-Out of Russian Gas Imports

The European Parliament and European Union member states formally cemented a provisional political agreement on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, establishing a mandate for the complete cessation of all Russian natural gas imports across the bloc. This legislative action, finalized in Brussels, is intended to eliminate a critical funding stream for Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine by severing the continent's energy dependence on Moscow.

The accord establishes a legally binding, staggered prohibition targeting both pipeline gas and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) originating from Russia, representing a significant structural pivot in the European energy architecture. This development serves as a central pillar of the broader REPowerEU roadmap, which aims for total decoupling of the European Union's energy supply from Russian sources. The established timelines introduce specific cut-off dates for various contract types to ensure a managed transition for member states.

Long-term LNG supply agreements face a prohibition commencing on January 1, 2027, a date aligned with provisions in the 19th sanctions package against Russia. For pipeline gas under long-term contracts, the ban is set for September 30, 2027, though this date is deferrable to November 1, 2027, contingent upon the successful fulfillment of gas storage filling targets. Shorter-term arrangements concluded before June 17, 2025, will cease Russian gas imports sooner: LNG by April 25, 2026, and pipeline gas by June 17, 2026. These measures are reinforced by provisions for penalties against non-compliant entities and a prior authorization regime for any remaining transition-period imports.

This agreement resolves previous resistance from certain member states, including Hungary and Slovakia, which had expressed reservations regarding stricter energy measures. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen characterized the decision as ushering in "the dawn of a new era, this of Europe's full energy independence from Russia," emphasizing that Europe has chosen energy security over volatile supplies. The legislative achievement formalizes a significant reduction in dependency, as Russian gas imports had already fallen substantially from 45% of total EU imports in 2021 to an estimated 12-13% as of October 2025.

The broader context of this policy shift illustrates a determined effort to enhance geopolitical resilience. The REPowerEU Plan, initiated in May 2022, has already seen Russian gas imports drop from 150 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2021 to 52 bcm in 2024, though a rebound in 2024 necessitated this final phase-out strategy. The regulation further mandates that member states submit national diversification plans by March 1, 2026, detailing how they will secure alternative supplies. The finalization of this gas ban is viewed as a crucial step in denying the Kremlin resources, as Russian gas still represented over €15 billion in annual revenue for Moscow in 2025. The agreement permits European companies to invoke force majeure to terminate existing contracts once the ban takes effect, pending formal ratification by the European Parliament and member state governments.