Vaidere secures historic agreement to phase-out russian gas

Strasbourg, 17 December – Today, the European Parliament approved by an overwhelming majority (500 votes in favour, 120 against, 32 abstentions) a historic regulation on the gradual phasing-out of imports of Russian natural gas and preparations for ending oil imports. The agreement was negotiated on behalf of the European Parliament by MEP Inese Vaidere, the Parliament’s rapporteur on this legislation together with Ville Niinistö MEP.

Bad news for the Kremlin, good news for Europe: the era in which Russia could manipulate EU policy through gas supplies is coming to an end.

“The law approved today marks a turning point for both EU energy security and the overall security of the European  Union. By completely abandoning Russian gas, the EU is entering a new phase in which it will no longer be dependent on a single, unreliable supplier for a strategic resource,” said Inese Vaidere. “Bad news for the Kremlin, good news for Europe: the era in which Russia could manipulate EU policy through gas supplies is coming to an end.”

The MEP underlined that the European Parliament entered negotiations with the European Commission and the Member States from a position of strength, and that its key demands were largely upheld during the trilogue negotiations. 

“Every interinstitutional agreement is a compromise, but this time the European Parliament’s position clearly prevailed. It was supported by almost all political groups. Even the fact that the final text goes beyond the Commission’s initial proposal was acknowledged in plenary by Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, who is responsible for the draft legislation,” Vaidere said.

Imports of Russian natural gas will be phased out significantly earlier than some Member States had initially sought.

Under the regulation, once it enters into force at the beginning of 2026, companies will no longer be allowed to conclude new contracts for the supply of Russian gas. Existing contracts will have to be terminated in 2026 or, depending on their terms and type of supply, no later than 30 September 2027. This means that imports of Russian natural gas will be phased out significantly earlier than some Member States had initially sought.

The negotiations also resulted in a clear and harmonised EU-wide system of penalties. Member States will be required to impose sanctions on companies that attempt to circumvent the rules, including by submitting false information about the origin of gas.

“The European Parliament insisted on a strict and legally robust regulation. Russia exploits every loophole it can find, so we had to ensure there are none. I am pleased that we succeeded in convincing both our colleagues in Parliament and the Council Presidency,” Vaidere stressed.

Oil brings billions of euros into the Kremlin’s war machine. A permanent solution is needed to safeguard the EU’s energy independence.

In parallel, the European Parliament received a written commitment from the European Commission to present, at the beginning of next year, a new legislative proposal on the complete and long-term phase-out of imports of Russian oil and oil products.

“Like gas, oil trade brings billions of euros into the Kremlin’s war machine. Even if oil imports are currently limited by sanctions, a permanent and legally sound solution is needed to safeguard the EU’s energy independence and security,” Vaidere said.

Ahead of the vote, Vaidere reminded colleagues of the moral and political cost of continued fossil fuel imports from Russia. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU has paid more than €216 billion for Russian fossil fuels and continues to pay around €40 million every day.

“Every euro has helped finance war and the killing of civilians in Ukraine. With today’s vote, the European Parliament is sending a historic signal: Russian gas has no future in Europe,” Vaidere concluded.