17.12.2025 19:45
The European Parliament has approved legislation that includes a phased termination of natural gas and liquefied natural gas imports from Russia by European Union countries. Accordingly, imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia will end by the end of 2026, and pipeline gas imports will be concluded by September 30, 2027.
During the European Parliament (EP) plenary session held in Strasbourg, France, the legal regulation prepared to gradually end the European Union's (EU) natural gas imports from Russia was discussed.
ADOPTED BY OVERWHELMING MAJORITY EP members voted to approve the law, which includes a phased ban on pipeline and liquefied natural gas imports starting from 2026, with 500 "yes" votes and 120 "no" votes. After this stage, the law will come into force after being approved by the EU Council and published in the Official Journal of the EU.
TO BE COMPLETED BY 2027 Accordingly, the EU will end LNG imports from Russia by the end of 2026 and pipeline gas imports by September 30, 2027. The EU's imports of LNG and pipeline gas from Russia, which were at 45% before the war, have recently decreased to 12%.
"WE HAVE GAINED OUR INDEPENDENCE FROM RUSSIA" On the other hand, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized in her speech at the parliament this morning that the European Union has significantly reduced its use of Russian gas since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Referring to the imports of other fossil fuels, Von der Leyen stated, "The share of coal imported from Russia was 51% at the beginning of the war, and today it has dropped to zero. Crude oil imports have decreased from 26% at the beginning of the war to 2%. We will completely phase out Russian fossil fuels permanently and fundamentally. Just a few years ago, this was unthinkable. But we took action and gained our independence from Russia," she said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Source: AA / İHA