Measures to accelerate the gradual abolition of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the European Union plans the block, just days after US President Donald Trump’s appeal to EU Make more efforts to limit Moscow’s energy trade.
The Commission, the EU Executive Body, is considering including the new sanctions package to gradually abolish Russian LNG imports earlier than the end of 2027, which was the original EU plan, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. The EU will propose its new sanctions already within the week.
The block also examines the option to promote the Remove Russian LNG imports through a modification of the so -called Repowereu plan Sources said to end the Moscow’s energy. “Since we have presented the RepwoReu plan in 2022, we have been saying that the gradual abolition of Russian energy is better to do earlier than later,” said Commission spokesman Anna-Kaisa Iconkone.
The Trump government has called on Europe to accelerate the reduction in imports of Russian fuel at a faster rate and It has put pressure on its allies to impose duties up to 100% on India and China for Russian oil markets.
Trump has called on Europe to do more to target Russia’s revenue from energy as a prerequisite for boosting the pressure he is exerting on Moscow.
Many EU countries are reluctant to impose duties on India and China, so the Commission’s attention is turning to Russian LNGaccording to sources.
The global gas market is expected to begin to have a surplus in the second half of next year, reducing the risk that the gradual abolition of Russian gas will put pressure on European supplies and leading to a sharp increase in prices. This will be a key factor for the EU to determine a new gradual removal date.
US has repeatedly expressed their interest to supply more LNG in Europeespecially as more production facilities are expected to be launched in the coming years. In recent years, the EU has introduced about 50 billion cubic meters of LNG per year from the US, with gas infrastructure in about twelve EU countries.
The commitment to buying more US LNG was a central element of the EU’s promise to buy US $ 750 billion in the next three years as part of the recently agreed EU – US trade agreement.
Russian gas flows to Europe declined sharply after the complete invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but Turkey’s pipeline supplies and liquefied natural gas shipments still representing almost 19 % of total EU imports in 2024.
Spain, Belgium and France are among the largest importers of Russian LNG.