On Wednesday night, MEPs from the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and Committee on International Trade and the Danish Presidency of the Council agreed to ban imports of Russian natural gas from the entry into force of the Regulation in early 2026 for spot-market liquefied natural gas (LNG), with a ban for pipeline gas from the 30th of September 2027.

The agreed text also lists the maximum penalties to be enforced by member states against operators for infringements of the regulation.

Preparing for a ban on oil imports

During negotiations, MEPs pushed for the prohibition of all imports of Russian oil, and secured a commitment by the European Commission to develop a legislative proposal on such a ban to be tabled in the beginning of 2026, for a ban to be effective no later than by the end of 2027.

MEPs worked to strengthen the conditions under which temporary suspension of the import ban can occur, in emergency situations in relation to EU energy security.

To close…