The latest ‘four-column’ document setting out the positions of the EU institutions in the context of the negotiations on the ‘REPowerEU’ Regulation on phasing out Russian gas makes explicit mention of the possible phase-out of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) from 1 January 2027.
This document, obtained by Agence Europe and dated 21 November, takes note of the latest political discussions (‘trilogue’) on the evening of Thursday 20 November (see EUROPE 13757/6).
Although it has not yet been officially approved by the co-legislators, the date for phasing out all LNG contracts on 1 January 2027 would be in line with the EU’s new sanctions package, which includes a ban on Russian LNG on the same date (see EUROPE 13737/6).
This deadline is one year earlier than the date of 1 January 2028 initially proposed by the European Commission for the phasing out of all imports of Russian gas under short-term and long-term contracts (LNG and pipeline gas) and included in the position of the EU Council (see EUROPE 13734/8). The European Parliament, for its part, supports a phase-out of all imports of Russian gas (as well as of Russian oil) on 1 January 2027.
In the case of gas imported via pipelines, the Commission has been asked to study an intermediate ban date in 2027, at the end of the heating season (winter 2026/2027). The four-column document therefore leaves a blank space in square brackets, meaning that a precise date for gas via pipeline has yet to be proposed and decided.
Imports under short-term contracts concluded before 17 June 2025 will now be banned from 25 April 2026 rather than 17 June 2026, again in line with the date on which EU sanctions for short-term LNG contracts come into force.
The Commission tasked with presenting new options. The other outstanding points, on which the European Commission has been tasked with presenting a guideline, concern in particular the review clause in the Regulation in the event of a risk to security of supply, which was called for by the Council but categorically rejected by Parliament.
There is also discussion of proposing “an alternative way” of referring to the ban on Russian oil, and of putting forward “suggestions” for harmonised penalties within the EU for breaches of the Regulation.
On the exemption of certain non-Russian gas exporting countries from the “prior authorisation” process, the document notes Parliament’s request for greater control by the Commission and the possibility of updating the list of exempted countries.
The document will form the basis for further discussions by the EU Council’s energy experts on Tuesday 25 November. The next political negotiation trilogue (which is planned to be the last) is scheduled for 2 December.
To see the document: https://aeur.eu/f/jly (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)