Russian energy imports
European Parliament calls for an absolute end to fossil fuel imports from Russia
The European Parliament calls for an absolute end of energy dependency of Russia starting with a partial ban from the 1st of January 2026 and leading to a total ban on gas and oil imports from the 1st of January 2027. The vast majority of Members of the lead committees on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and on international Trade (INTA) under the leadership of Co-Rapporteurs Ville Niinistö (Greens/EFA) and Inese Vaidere (EPP) just voted for a permanent end of Russian energy imports into the EU market including gas and oil. This would terminate fossil dependency of Russia, one year earlier compared to the European Commission’s proposal, also eliminating the original Commission proposal’s loopholes and exceptions.
Ville Niinistö, Co-Rapporteur of the European Parliament in the ITRE Committee and Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, welcomes the vast support for the mandate to enter into negotiations:
“The outcome of the Parliament’s vote is an impressive improvement that strengthens EU’s energy independence and strategic autonomy. The vast unity across democratic parties and strong support amongst EU citizens shows the deep commitment against the Russian aggression against Ukraine and weaponizing of fossil fuel exports against European democracy.
“There are four key elements we wanted to toughen in the ban. We got scope expansion to oil and an early ban for oil imports as of 1st of January 2026, earlier deadlines for the ban of gas imports and more stringent enforcement mechanisms while getting rid of exceptions and loopholes. The result is a balanced compromise with broad political support in the Parliament. In the negotiations with the Member states for the final legislation we expect to deliver an outcome with progress on all of these matters to the benefit of European sovereignty and the future of democracy.”
Background
Following proposals made by Co-Rapporteur Ville Niinistö (Greens/EFA), in the upcoming negotiations, the European Parliament will also take a strong stance on widening the scope of the proposed law by permanently banning oil and petroleum products within just a couple of months, as of the beginning of 2026. The end of Russian gas, oil and petroleum imports will not include any exemptions for any EU member states.
The European Parliament also urges for stronger enforcement, introducing high penalties as a minimum of 5 per cent of annual global turnover for breaches of the regulation, and a no-loophole-approach, eliminating all escape clauses from the Commission’s draft, including the option to temporarily suspend the regulation.
Today´s vote hammered out the European Parliament´s mandate for negotiations with the Council on the Regulation on phasing out Russian natural gas imports, improving monitoring of potential energy dependencies. The mandate will be announced at the opening of next week´s plenary (Monday, 20 October). Greens/EFA shadow in INTA committee is Markéta Gregorova (Pirates).
There will be a plenary debate next Wednesday (22 October) afternoon on “Ending all energy imports from Russia to the EU and closing loopholes through third countries”.
