The European Parliament today called for the EU’s disconnection from Russian gas and oil to be brought forward by one year compared to the European Commission’s proposal to end imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), and to eliminate the exceptions for Slovakia and Hungary.
MEPs propose to start a partial ban from January 1, 2026, and move towards a total ban on long-term contracts for Russian hydrocarbons from January 1, 2027, i.e., twelve months before the date proposed by the Commission.
The Eurochamber endorsed that position by a large majority through the competent committees on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and International Trade (INTA), on the eve of the energy ministers of the member states analyzing the issue next Monday.
However, European sources doubt that the Twenty-Seven will commit to such an ambitious schedule and consider it more likely that they will adhere to the deadlines proposed by the Community Executive, which already advanced the disconnection date – through war sanctions – after pressure from the United States.
The community chamber also calls for the introduction of high penalties of a minimum of 5% of annual turnover for companies that violate the regulation.
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The Greens also propose to remove all escape clauses from the Commission’s draft, including the possibility of temporarily suspending the regulation, the Greens reported in a statement.
The position adopted by the European Parliament, which must be endorsed next Monday in plenary session, will serve for the negotiation with the Member States to adopt the regulations, probably before the end of the year.
