EU countries agree on plan to ban Russian gas and oil starting 1 January 2028

The Council of the European Union has agreed on its position on the gradual ban of Russian gas imports under the REPowerEU regulation, setting the final deadline for a full ban as 1 January 2028, the Council’s press service reported.

The final text of the regulation will be negotiated with the European Parliament, which supports an accelerated phase-out, potentially starting in 2027.

Under the Council’s proposal, the ban on Russian gas imports will take effect on 1 January 2026, with a transition period: short-term contracts signed before 17 June 2025 will remain valid until 17 June 2026, while long-term contracts will run until 1 January 2028.

Any changes to existing contracts will be allowed only for narrowly defined operational purposes and cannot lead to an increase in supply volumes. An exception applies to landlocked countries affected by changes in supply routes, notably Slovakia and Hungary.

Compared with the European Commission’s proposal, the Council has simplified customs requirements by introducing a prior authorization system for gas imports: documentation for Russian gas must be submitted at least one month before entry, and for non-Russian gas at least five days prior.

For mixed liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments, importers must document the respective shares of Russian and non-Russian gas, with only the non-Russian portion allowed to enter the EU.

The prior authorization procedure will not apply to imports from countries meeting certain criteria. The European Commission is required to compile a list of such countries within five days of the regulation taking effect.

All member states must submit national diversification plans outlining measures and potential challenges for phasing out Russian gas. Countries that have already fully stopped direct and indirect imports of Russian gas are exempt.

The same requirement applies to member states still importing Russian oil, with the goal of ending such imports by 1 January 2028.

• As of 2024, ten EU countries imported Russian natural gas, and three imported Russian oil.