EU ambassadors confirm agreement on full ban on Russian gas

Brussels – The ambassadors of the 27 EU member states endorsed the agreement reached last week by the European Parliament and the EU Council on the definitive end to Russian gas imports: the amendment of the RepowerEU regulation. 

The decision was taken by a majority, with two states voting no, at the meeting of the permanent representatives of the 27 (Coreper). “Coreper I confirmed the agreement on the final compromise and will now inform the European Parliament as usual,” the Danish Presidency of the EU Council announced. The legislation is considered important in Brussels because, unlike sanctions, it entails a permanent ban on Russian gas and includes strict control mechanisms. RePowerEU will now have to be considered by the plenary of the Parliament next week and finally receive final approval from the EU Council. The regulation will enter into force the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU, and the ban will enter into force six weeks later.

 The regulation introduces a phased and legally binding ban on both imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and pipeline gas from Russia, with a total ban from the end of 2026 and autumn 2027, respectively.

For short-term supply contracts concluded before 17 June 2025, the ban on Russian gas imports will apply from 25 April 2026 for LNG and from 17 June 2026 for pipeline gas. For long-term LNG import contracts, the ban will apply from 1 January 2027, in line with the 19th sanctions package. For long-term contracts for pipeline gas imports, the ban will come into effect on 30 September 2027, provided that states are on track to meet the storage fill targets under the Gas Storage Regulation, and at the latest on 1 November 2027.