Press remarks by Commissioner Jørgensen on the Commission's roadmap towards ending Russian energy imports

Today the European Union sends a very clear message to Russia:

No More.

No more – will we permit Russia to weaponise energy against us.

No more – will we allow our member states to be blackmailed.

No more – will we indirectly help fill up the war chest in Kremlin.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 the EU has worked hard to stop all import of Russian energy.

We have done that for two good reasons: to secure our independence of Russia and to cease indirectly supporting the Russian war-economy.

On imports of coal. Before 2022, half of the coal we used in the EU was from Russia. This we have stopped completely.

On oil, we have gone from 26% to 3% of our oil being from Russia.

And finally gas. We have gone from 45% of our gas coming from Russia in 2022 to 13% today.

So, we have come far. But not far enough.

Last year we in the EU paid €23 billion to Russia for our energy imports. That is €1.8 billion per month. This needs to stop. For that reason – today – the Commission has adopted a roadmap that will finish the job.

It will be a stepwise and gradual approach, so as to minimise impact on the EU Member States affected, whilst also acting fast and resolute.

Next month we take unparalleled actions and table a package of legislative proposals:

We will introduce new rules on transparency, monitoring and traceability of Russian gas. 

We ask Member states to make mandatory national plans for phasing out Russian gas, nuclear fuel and oil. These plans need to be ready by the end of this year.

We ban all imports of Russian gas under new contracts and existing spot contracts taking effect as of the end of this year. 

We ban remaining imports of Russian pipeline gas and LNG under existing long-term contracts by the end 2027.

Also to address the illegal oil entering the market via Russia's “shadow fleet” we tighten the grip.

We will work, together with the High Representative, on the deployment of an EU Common Security and Defense Policy missions, that shall conduct surveillance, monitor maritime activities to identify suspicious vessels or behaviors and deter illegal maritime activities.

Apart from fossil fuels we also plan to take action against the import of nuclear fuels. This means:

We will introduce new restrictions to phase out Russian imports of uranium, enriched uranium and other nuclear materials as well as introduce obligations to be transparent and diversify supplies.

We will make Russian fuels economically unattractive and strengthen our European union nuclear fuel supply chain.

There will be no new approvals for contracts with Russian suppliers co-signed by the Euratom Supply Agency.

To safeguard security of supply this will be a gradual approach, as soon as possible.

So, today is an important day. 

Russia is a threat to all of us. Therefore, we must act.  And therefore, we take these new significant steps against Russia. Important actions to secure our own independence in solidarity with Ukraine.

Already at the end of this year all member states will put forward concrete plans on how to stop imports of Russian energy. New gas contracts and existing spot market contracts will be banned already this year. And thereby eliminating one third of today's imports from Russia.

By the end of 2027 we will be completely free from Russian gas.

This is not a small thing. This is not without challenges. But it can be done, and we will deliver in a gradual, coordinated way. Supporting member states where and when it is necessary.