European Union energy ministers on Monday backed a proposal to ban Russian gas imports, boosting the bloc’s efforts to further reduce Russia’s energy export revenues, DPA reported.
“An energy-independent Europe is a stronger and more secure Europe. Although we have worked hard and made efforts in recent years to wean ourselves off Russian oil and gas, we are not there yet,” said Danish Energy Minister Lars Aagaard, who is chairing the meeting.
Agreement on a common position on stopping imports was needed before the European Parliament could finalise the proposal. MEPs had already expressed their support for the proposal in a vote last week, which allows negotiations with EU member state leaders to begin, according to Agerpres.
Under the proposal, imports of pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia would be permanently banned by 2028 at the latest.
The ban negotiated by the European Parliament would be adopted by a majority vote, meaning countries such as Hungary and Slovakia, which import pipeline gas from Russia, could vote against it.
It is crucial that the initiative “gets overwhelming support from EU energy ministers,” Aagaard said.
Parallel efforts are underway to ban imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia earlier, as part of the EU’s upcoming sanctions package on Moscow.
According to EU data, Russia last year accounted for about a fifth of all gas imported by the bloc, with LNG accounting for a growing share. In the first half of 2025, the EU imported almost €4.5 billion worth of LNG from Russia.
The sanctions can be adopted as soon as all 27 EU member states agree on the measures, without the involvement of the European Parliament, speeding up the legislative process. The sanctions imposed on Moscow are temporary and could be lifted after the end of the war in Ukraine, if the EU no longer has any reason to penalise Moscow.
An agreement between EU member states and the European Parliament on a ban on pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas aims to permanently end fuel imports from Russia.