Council and Parliament (EU) agree on rules to prohibit Russian gas imports

Key facts

• Imports of Russian pipeline gas and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) will be prohibited from six weeks after the regulation's entry into force, with a transition period for existing contracts.
• Russian gas accounts for an estimated 13% of European Union (EU) imports in 2025, valued at over €15 billion annually.
• European Union (EU) oil imports from Russia dropped to below 3% in 2025 due to the current sanctions regime.
• The Commission intends to propose legislation for phasing out Russian oil imports to the European Union (EU) no later than end of 2027.
• The prior authorisation procedure does not apply to imports from countries that exported over 5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas to the European Union (EU) in 2024.
• The regulation introduces effective, proportionate, and dissuasive penalties for non-compliance, including a maximum threshold for both companies and private individuals.
• The Commission will review the regulation's implementation within two years of its entry into force.
• Member states must notify the Commission within one month of the regulation's entry into force regarding Russian gas supply contracts or national legal bans.