EU Lawmakers Push to Fast-track Russian Gas Phase-out
The European Parliament is considering advancing the phase-out of Russian gas imports by a year to January 2027. Proposed by Inese Vaidere and Ville Niinisto, these measures seek to amend the Commission's plan, using the deadline shift as leverage for additional negotiations. Final decisions require parliamentary and EU countries' approval.
The European Parliament is actively reviewing proposals to accelerate the European Union's cutoff of Russian gas imports to January 2027, according to documents accessed by Reuters. This initiative comes as part of the larger strategic shift in response to geopolitical tensions and aims to intensify negotiations on a legally-binding ban.
Central to the proposed advancement of this gas phase-out are EU lawmakers Inese Vaidere and Ville Niinisto. Vaidere has suggested that governments should penalize companies violating the ban, while Niinisto calls for a full ban on Russian oil starting in 2027. Despite some member states' reluctance, such proposals could be key in negotiating broader changes.
The European Parliament is set to finalize its stance in the upcoming autumn, preceding talks with EU countries. Even as countries like Hungary and Slovakia push back due to ongoing imports, a qualified majority approval would prevent them from blocking the change. Post-invasion of Ukraine, the EU aims to diminish energy reliance on Russia with a goal of reducing gas import shares significantly.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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