The European Parliament has approved legislation to phase out Russian gas imports, marking a major shift in the EU’s energy policy and efforts to curb Moscow’s influence over the bloc’s
energy supply. The new rules are designed to shield the EU from what lawmakers call Russia’s long-standing “weaponisation” of energy.
Under the law, spot-market imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) will end in early 2026, when the regulation enters into force. Pipeline gas imports will be gradually reduced and completely halted by 30 September 2027. Member states will be responsible for enforcing penalties on companies that breach the restrictions.
Oil ban preparations underway
MEPs also pushed for the EU to move towards banning Russian oil. As part of the agreement, the European Commission has committed to proposing legislation in early 2026 that could allow a full oil import ban to be introduced by the end of 2027.
Lawmakers insisted on tightening exemptions that would allow temporary suspensions of the gas ban in emergency situations linked to EU energy security. To prevent loopholes, gas operators will be required to provide more detailed proof of production origin before gas is imported or stored in Europe.
Political response
“This is historic: the EU is taking a giant step towards a new era free of Russian gas and oil. Russia can never again use fossil fuel exports as a weapon against Europe. Our key priorities were to accelerate the timeline for banning pipeline gas as much as possible, prohibit long-term LNG contracts one year earlier than foreseen, and prevent circumvention of these new rules. Now, we must act without delay to implement this agreement and turn our attention to oil imports, where we will hold the European Commission to its commitment to make a proposal early in 2026,” lead MEP for the Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE), Ville Niinistö (Greens/EFA, Finland) said.
“Today's vote sends a clear and powerful message: Europe will never again be dependent on Russian gas. This is a major achievement for the EU and a historic turning point in European energy policy. We have strengthened the European Commission’s initial proposal by introducing a pathway towards a ban on oil and its products, ending long-term contracts sooner than originally proposed, and securing penalties for non-compliance,” said Inese Vaidere (EPP, Latvia), lead MEP for the International Trade Committee.
What comes next
The law, already backed in negotiations with EU governments, was adopted with 500 votes in favour, 120 against, and 32 abstentions. It now awaits formal Council approval before being published in the EU’s Official Journal.
Why it happened
The legislation is a direct response to Russia’s deliberate manipulation of Europe’s energy markets, which intensified after Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. EU officials cited a pattern stretching back nearly two decades, including Gazprom’s underfilling of European storage sites and abrupt pipeline shutdowns—moves that triggered record energy price surges across the continent. Photo by gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K, Wikimedia commons.