The European Union (EU) plans to propose measures in June to ban imports of Russian gas by 2027, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.
According to them, the ban would affect all gas imports under new deals with Russia and existing spot contracts. The European Commission will present plans in Strasbourg on May 6 that would propose a ban in June on imports of Russian gas through pipelines and as liquefied natural gas (LNG) under long-term agreements, the sources said.
According to Bloomberg, the measures for spot contracts would come into effect no later than 2025, and for long-term agreements - by the end of 2027. The agency notes that the timing of the bans depends on the union's ability to organize alternative supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Africa, Canada, Qatar, including the United States, as part of trade negotiations with the administration of the head of the White House Donald Trump.
According to sources, the plans, which will be presented at the session of the European Parliament on May 6, may undergo changes.
Earlier, Reuters reportedthat the European Commission is studying legal options that would allow companies from EU countries to terminate existing gas supply contracts with Russia without paying fines. The EU also plans to present a plan for a gradual transition from Russian energy sources on May 6.
In May 2022, the European Union launched the REPowerEU program, aimed at ending dependence on Russian gas by 2027. At the same time, the cost of purchasing Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the European Union has increased almost fourfold in three years due to an increase in the prices and volumes of LNG supplies from the Russian Federation.