On Wednesday 18 March, the European Commission presented an updated version of its guidelines for implementing the ‘REPowerEU’ regulation on phasing out imports of Russian gas (see EUROPE 13799/20).
Against the backdrop of the Middle East conflict, the European Commission believes all efforts should be made “to avoid any barriers to imports of non-Russian LNG which are not strictly necessary”.
The document therefore clarifies certain procedural details concerning the prior authorisation of non-Russian gas imports, so that cargoes that do not originate in Russia ‘can travel to the EU with the fewest possible administrative obstacles”.
Prior authorisation is required for imports via pipeline or of non-Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) from countries not on the list of exempted countries. These are all third countries with the exception of Norway, the United States, the United Kingdom, Algeria, Qatar and Nigeria.
For imports of Russian gas, the application for prior authorisation must reach the competent authorities no later than one month before the gas enters the EU customs territory. For non-Russian gas, this period is five working days.
18 March marked the first phase of the definitive “exit” from Russian gas, with a ban on LNG and pipeline imports under short- or long-term contracts concluded or amended after 17 June 2025.
Read the guidelines: https://aeur.eu/f/l92 (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)