Phasing out Russian fossil fuel imports [EU Legislation in Progress]

Written by Saša Butorac.

CONTEXT

At the Versailles Summit in March 2022, EU leaders committed to phasing out Europe’s dependency on imported Russian natural gas, oil and coal. EU Member States ceased to import coal from Russia in August 2022, while imports of Russian crude oil dropped from 27 % in 2021 to 3 % of total EU crude oil imports in 2024. However, Russian natural gas still represents a substantial part of total EU gas consumption. The Commission proposed a ‘Roadmap towards ending Russian energy imports’ on 6 May 2025, aiming at the EU fully ending its dependency on Russian energy, while ensuring stable energy supplies and prices across the EU.

A follow-up legislative proposal, published on 17 June 2025, focuses solely on phasing out imports of natural gas and oil from Russia, while imports of Russian nuclear material will be the subject of a separate proposal due to the complexity of supply chains. The proposal introduces legal obligations on Member States and private entities aiming at gradually phasing out pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) originating in or exported directly or indirectly from Russia. It also presents measures to facilitate a complete end to Russian oil imports by the end of 2027. A complete phase out of imports of Russian natural gas is envisaged for 1 January 2028, while imports under short-term contracts should end by 17 June 2026.

This is an update a of a briefing published in July 2025.

Legislative proposal

2025/0180(COD) – Proposal for a regulation on phasing out Russian natural gas imports, improving monitoring of potential energy dependencies and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 – COM(2025) 828, 17.6.2025.

NEXT STEPS IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

The file is being handled jointly by the committees on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), co-rapporteur Ville Niinistö (Greens/EFA, Finland), and International Trade (INTA), co-rapporteur Inese Vaidere (EPP, Latvia). Following the joint committee vote on the report and mandate for interinstitutional negotiations, trilogue talks commenced in November 2025. For the latest developments in this legislative procedure, see the Legislative Train Schedule.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Phasing out Russian fossil fuel imports‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.