Russian Gas Will Be Multiplied By Zero: The EU Has Found A Way To Bypass Orban And Fitzo's Veto

The measure does not require unanimous approval en bloc.

The European Union intends to ban Russian gas with a quota set at zero. The measure does not require unanimous approval in the bloc.

This is reported by Bloomberg.

As the agency notes, the EU has avoided proposing sanctions on gas imports because of opposition from Hungary and Slovakia. Instead, the European Commission to use instruments requiring the support of a qualified majority.

The EU is likely to propose a quota for a Europe-wide ban on Russian gas imports by the end of 2027. Officials say this should provide companies with a legal basis for terminating long-term purchase contracts.

Quotas Together Sanctions

The plan gives the clearest signal yet of how feasible and effective a ban would be. Earlier this month, the EU unveiled a broad roadmap for phasing out Russian fossil fuels.

The quota would be directly enforced in all member states, and officials expect its effectiveness to be comparable to that of the sanctions regime.

Although Russia is no longer the bloc's largest supplier, it still accounts for nearly a fifth of European demand, and the Kremlin is using that revenue to fund its war against Ukraine.

The bloc-wide quota, which will be proposed in mid-June, would require the support of a qualified majority of national governments and a majority in the European Parliament to take effect.

Full Ban

According to its two-phase roadmap announced earlier this month, the European Commission wants to first ban all new contracts and end existing deals on the spot market - which is a third of Russian gas supplies to the bloc - by the end of 2025. Long-term contracts would be phased out by the end of 2027.

Reducing dependence on Moscow would open the door for U.S. suppliers to ship more LNG to Europe, something President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for.

For now, this EU remains an attractive destination for cargoes from Russia's Yamal LNG plant in the Arctic, with companies such as TotalEnergies SE, Naturgy Energy Group SA and Germany's Securing Energy for Europe GmbH having signed long-term contracts.

After adoption, a zero quota on Russian gas imports will be imposed by national authorities. A large majority of countries support the phase-out plan, Poland's Deputy Environment Minister Krzysztof Bolesta told Bloomberg News last week. His country chairs member state meetings on the roadmap as the EU presidency.

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