The legislative proposal, presented by the European Commission (EC) to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday, means that EU countries will stop importing Russian gas and oil by the end of 2027, while maintaining security of energy supply and avoiding price fluctuations.

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The Commission specified that this would end the EU's dependence on Russian fossil fuels, eliminate market and economic security risks, and strengthen the energy independence and competitiveness of the Union.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the media that Russia had repeatedly tried to blackmail the EU by using energy supplies as a weapon."We have taken concrete steps to turn off the tap and definitively end the era of Russian fossil fuels in Europe," she said.

Tuesday's legislative proposal follows plans under the REPowerEU initiative, presented in May, which set out a gradual and coordinated EU-wide phase-out of Russian gas imports, while the Union continues its transition to a clean economy and decarbonisation.

The Commission argues that the current volume of Russian gas imports can be phased out without significant economic impact or risk to security of supply, as there are sufficient alternative suppliers on the global gas market, the EU gas market is well-connected and there is sufficient import infrastructure. The Commission has built into the proposal safeguards to respond to movements in gas markets and to provide legal protection to gas importing companies.

The regulation provides for the phasing out of pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) originating in the Russian Federation or directly or indirectly exported by Russia. It also presents measures to facilitate the complete cessation of Russian oil imports by the end of 2027.

Member States will have to submit supply diversification plans with precise measures and milestones to phase out imports of Russian gas and oil.

Imports of Russian gas under new contracts will be banned from 1 January 2026. Imports under short-term contracts will be suspended until 17 June 2026. The exception will be gas flowing through pipelines to landlocked EU countries bound by long-term contracts - these deliveries will be allowed until the end of 2027. Imports under long-term contracts will be suspended until the end of 2027.

Long-term contracts for LNG terminal services to customers from Russia or controlled by Russian companies will also be prohibited. This will ensure that LNG terminal capacity is redirected to alternative suppliers, increasing the resilience of energy markets.

The Commission stressed that it will support Member States throughout this process. Together with the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), it will closely monitor the progress and impact of the phasing out of Russian gas and oil imports. In the event that the security of supply of one or more Member States is threatened, the EC will take emergency measures.

Companies that have contracts to supply Russian gas will have to inform the EC about this, and importers of Russian gas will have to provide customs authorities with all necessary information about the route of the imported gas from its actual origin to the point of import into the Union.