EU Energy Ministers convened to discuss the increasing imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia, the looming energy crisis in Ukraine ahead of winter, and strategies to balance energy prices among member states.
In June, the EU implemented a 14th package of sanctions, which included a ban on the transshipment of Russian LNG starting in March 2025. However, a complete ban was not achieved. Since then, Belgium and the Netherlands have experienced a notable surge in imports, with over 10% of the EU’s energy requirements still being met by Russian LNG.
France, along with nine other countries, urged the European Commission to introduce stricter reporting obligations for companies involved in storing gas and supplying Russian LNG. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU committed to phasing out Russian fossil fuels but has yet to specify a timeline.
Following the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline in a still-unresolved terrorist attack, imports of Russian LNG to the EU have risen, while gas continues to transit through Ukraine and Turkey to Central Europe. The current gas transit contract between Ukraine and Russia is set to expire in December and will not be renewed.
