EU Unveils Plan to End Russian Gas Imports by 2027, Faces Opposition from Slovakia
The European Union has announced a comprehensive plan to phase out Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, marking a significant shift in the bloc's energy policy. The European Commission, the EU's executive branch, unveiled the roadmap on May 6, 2025, aiming to transform political promises into binding measures [5][6].
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of this move, stating, "Some are still saying that we should re-open the tap of Russian gas and oil. This would be a mistake of historic dimensions" [1]. She further stressed that dependency on Russia is detrimental to both EU security and economy.
The two-step plan proposes to ban new gas contracts with Russia by the end of 2025 and phase out existing ones by the end of 2027 [6]. EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen presented the plan, saying, "We've managed to put together a legislative package that will make sure that we will now get completely rid of Russian gas in our energy mix" [3].
However, the plan has already faced opposition. Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico called it "absolutely unacceptable" for his country, citing a gas delivery deal with Russia that expires in 2034. Fico threatened to veto the plan and seek compensation for potential damages [2].
The EU's push to cut ties with Russian energy has proven challenging. While Russian pipeline gas exports to the EU have plummeted from over 155 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 2021 to under 40 bcm in 2024, Russian LNG sales to the EU have nearly doubled to around 25 bcm in the same period [4].
Energy experts warn that new dependencies and old divisions could derail the plan. The TurkStream pipeline, which has not only survived but expanded, could potentially slow the EU-Russia decoupling process [4].
The Kremlin has responded to the EU's plan, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov telling Reuters that Europe was "shooting itself in the foot" [6]. Meanwhile, some analysts predict that the EU's rejection of Russian gas could lead to higher prices in the region, potentially reaching $500 per thousand cubic meters in the short term [10].
As the EU moves forward with its plan, it faces the challenge of balancing energy security, economic interests, and political unity. The success of this ambitious roadmap will depend on the bloc's ability to diversify its energy sources and maintain solidarity among its member states.