The European Commission has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap aimed at severing Europe’s dependence on Russian energy resources in the forthcoming years. This strategic plan mandates an outright ban on the importation of all Russian gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to European Union member states by the conclusion of 2027.
No more will we permit Russia to weaponise energy against us… No more will we indirectly help fill up the [Kremlin’s] war chests.
These remarks were made by European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jorgensen during a press briefing in Strasbourg on Tuesday. In light of this initiative, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded by stating that Europe was “shooting itself in the foot,” as reported by the Reuters news agency.
Commitment to Energy Independence
The EU’s commitment to ending its energy ties with Russia was solidified following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. To facilitate this transition, the European Commission plans to introduce legislative proposals in June, which will require all EU member states to formulate “national plans” aimed at phasing out imports of Russian gas, nuclear fuel, and oil.
Member states will be tasked with submitting their strategies for replacing Russian oil imports by the end of 2027. Additionally, they will need to detail their plans to eliminate dependence on Russian sources for uranium and other nuclear materials.
Strategies for Energy Diversification
The European Commission has articulated its ambition to transition away from Russian gas through a multi-faceted approach that includes enhancing energy efficiency, accelerating the adoption of renewable energy sources, and diversifying energy supplies. While the EU’s dependence on Russian oil, gas, and nuclear fuels has significantly lessened since the onset of the invasion, a considerable portion of the bloc’s energy still originates from Russia.
Recent statistics indicate a decline in EU gas imports from Russia, which plummeted from 45% in 2021 to 19% in 2024. Similarly, the share of Russian oil imports has drastically decreased from 27% at the beginning of 2022 to a mere 3% presently. However, reducing reliance on Russian nuclear supplies remains a critical issue, as the report highlights that over 14% of uranium consumed in the EU is still sourced from Russia.
The reliance on Russian gas, oil, and nuclear fuel is viewed as a significant risk to the EU’s economic security and poses challenges in financially supporting Russia’s military endeavors. Jorgensen emphasized, “We’ve come far, but not far enough,” underscoring that the impending measures to phase out Russian energy will be executed in a “stepwise and gradual” manner to mitigate any adverse effects on the EU.
Moreover, the roadmap includes strategies to combat Russia’s use of “shadow fleets” — oil tankers with ambiguous ownership and insurance that Russia employs to sustain its oil exports while bypassing sanctions.