Following the first session, on 6 November, of interinstitutional negotiations on theREPowerEU regulation to phase out Russian gas (see EUROPE 13747/7), the European Parliament’s co-rapporteur, Inese Vaidere (EPP, Latvian), told the Committee on Industry (ITRE) on Tuesday 11 November that the Council of the EU was not showing any “real willingness” to find a compromise, particularly on the issue of deadlines for the end of imports.
Parliament wants to bring forward the date for the complete phase-out of Russian gas imports into the EU to 1 January 2027 (see EUROPE 13736/19), while the EU Council is maintaining the Commission’s proposal for a definitive phase-out for 1 January 2028 (see EUROPE 13734/8).
“The Danish presidency is very motivated to reach the agreement, but there are quite a few Member States that do not realise that the sooner we stop funding Russia’s war in Ukraine, the safer entire Europe, including its citizens, will be”, stressed Ms Vaidere.
The co-rapporteur explained that an earlier date would deprive the Kremlin of an additional €29 billion in revenue. She also pointed out that the recently adopted 19th package of sanctions against Russia (see EUROPE 13737/6) now bans imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) starting 1 January 2027.
“Yet, the Council has demonstrated no willingness to move forward the date for phasing out the gas pipeline”, the rapporteur regretted.
Another point of contention concerns the inclusion in the regulation of a ban on the latest Russian oil imports, which are still exempt for Hungary and Slovakia under the EU sanctions regime.
Ms Vaidere acknowledged that the inclusion of the ban on oil is a sensitive issue for the EU Council, as it indicates that this addition would weaken the legal soundness of the regulation.
However, she said she was determined “to defend its inclusion in the upcoming negotiations because the Council’s arguments are, in our eyes, pretty weak”.
She also returned to two other points left in limbo, namely the question of introducing a penalty system, as called for by the European Parliament, and the clause for reviewing the import ban in the event of threats to security of supply, supported by the EU Council. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)