EC unveils long-awaited roadmap for eliminating Russian fossil fuel imports

The European Commission presented May 6 its long-awaited roadmap for eliminating Russian fossil fuel imports, saying it would give legislative proposals in June to implement a ban by the end of 2025 on the import of Russian gas both under new contracts and existing spot contracts.

In the roadmap, first expected in February, the EC also said it would propose next month a ban on the remaining imports of Russian gas and LNG -- volumes imported under existing long-term contracts -- to take effect no later than the end of 2027.

The EC has made it a political priority to end Russian energy imports by 2027, despite some member states remaining dependent on Russian pipeline gas, in particular Hungary.

Other EU countries in southeast Europe still buy Russian pipeline gas, including Greece and Romania, while Russian LNG is supplied to a number of markets in western Europe, notably France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain.

The EC said May 6 that 10 member states imported Russian gas in 2024, while three still imported Russian oil, and seven took enriched uranium or uranium services from Russia.

"It is now time for Europe to completely cut off its energy ties with an unreliable supplier," EC President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.

"And energy that comes to our continent should not pay for a war of aggression against Ukraine," von der Leyen said.

Roadmap actions

In the roadmap, the EC said the actions presented should be implemented at EU level and in a "coordinated manner" so that they minimize the impact on energy prices.

It said they should also stabilize energy markets through "secure and predictable alternative supplies and strive to provide legal certainty".

The EC said imports of pipeline gas and LNG from Russia had decreased from 45% of total imports in 2021 to 19% in 2024.

Projections point to a further fall to 13% in 2025 with the end of Russian gas transit via Ukraine, it said.

The EC added that, currently, around two-thirds of Russian gas imports were supplied based on long-term contracts, while around one-third was delivered on a spot basis.

Hungary is among the countries in the EU that still buy Russian gas both under long-term contracts and as spot purchases.

The EC said the remaining volumes were not expected to be eliminated without further European action, given the absence of commercial incentives and ongoing long-term contracts.

The roadmap had been heavily trailed by the EU's energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen, who has repeatedly doubled down on his desire to phase out Russian fossil fuel imports.

In a statement, Jorgensen said the message to Russia was clear.

"No more shall you blackmail our member states. No more shall Euros go into your war chest. Your gas will be banned. Your shadow fleet will be stopped," Jorgensen said.

In a press conference later May 6 to present the roadmap, Jorgensen said the EU had been dependent on a Russian state and a Russian leader who had chosen to "weaponize" energy.

"We will make Russian fuels economically unattractive and strengthen European supply chains," Jorgensen said.

For companies that might have gas contracts that extend beyond 2027, the ban should be considered as a "force majeure", something Jorgensen said was a "comforting message".

Jorgensen said the EC expected a ramp-up in global LNG production and new pipeline routes into the EU to help cover the lost Russian gas.

"Overall we don't estimate that this will lead to increases in price," Jorgensen said, conceding, however, that the ban would affect some countries more than others.

The bans that are part of the plan will be adopted with a qualified majority, rather than requiring unanimity.

Jorgensen also said the bans were independent of any potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.

"Even if there was peace tomorrow, still it would not be sensible to become dependent on Russian fossil fuel again," he said.

TurkStream route

Russia currently only supplies Europe with pipeline gas via the TurkStream route after Ukraine halted Russian gas transit following the expiry at the end of 2024 of its five-year transit agreement with Moscow.

It also delivers LNG to a number of EU countries from the Yamal LNG facility in northern Russia.

Total deliveries to Europe via TurkStream -- which began flowing gas in January 2020 -- were 22% higher year over year in 2024 at 15.5 Bcm, according to S&P Global Energy data.

Meanwhile, EU imports of Russian LNG have shown little sign of slowing so far in 2025.

According to Energy data, Russia has supplied the EU with a total of 5.8 million mt of LNG so far this year.

The data showed that total EU imports of Russian LNG were up in 2024 compared to the year prior, reaching some 15.6 million mt last year, up from 13.4 million mt in 2023.

It comes as spot LNG prices for delivery into Northwest Europe remain relatively high, with Platts assessing the NWE DES Marker at $10.17/MMBtu May 2.

The EC said in the roadmap that it wanted to ensure that a "well-prepared, orderly and secure" phase-out of Russian gas in the EU minimized the impact on prices, markets, and security of supply.

It said it would propose legislation requiring member states to plan and monitor the EU-wide phase-out of Russian gas.

National plans should lay out the volume of Russian gas imports under existing contracts, including for contracts with take-or-pay clauses, a timeline supporting EU measures to achieve the objective of phasing out Russian gas, and diversification options to replace Russian gas.

In its roadmap, the EC also said it would propose measures necessary for more effective monitoring and traceability of Russian gas imports.

One measure would require companies to provide information on Russian gas contracts, including volume and duration, to member states' relevant authorities and to the EC.

Another action would ensure that information on actual imports of Russian gas is shared among customs, national energy and security authorities, and the EC.

"These measures would give governments and the Commission access to relevant information on Russian gas entering their energy systems," it said. "With this information, the Commission would also be better equipped to coordinate EU-wide actions for a phase-out across the EU and prepare for alternative supplies."

The EC said it would present a legislative proposal on rules for increased transparency, monitoring, and traceability of Russian gas by June.

"With a view to enhance security of supply and preparedness, the Commission aims to include similar transparency requirements for all gas imports to the EU in the future revision of the energy security architecture in 2026."