At a Council meeting in Luxembourg on 20 October, EU energy ministers reached a political agreement to set a final deadline for phasing out Russian gas imports. Under the Danish EU presidency, the Council backed legislation that sets 1 January 2028 as the end date for Russian gas in Europe – with a gradual phase-out beginning as early as next year.

Since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine in 2022, the EU has significantly reduced its dependence on Russian fossil fuels. However, Russian gas still accounts for an estimated 13 per cent of the EU’s total gas imports in 2025. In response, the European Commission proposed earlier this year to accelerate the full phase-out, and today’s agreement marks a key milestone.

The proposal received broad support from EU energy ministers and will now move into the next phase of negotiations with the European Parliament. Denmark, holding the EU Council presidency, will lead these negotiations on behalf of the Council.

“An energy-independent Europe is a stronger and safer Europe. Although we have worked hard and pushed to phase out Russian gas and oil over the past few years, we are not there yet. That is why it is crucial that the Danish presidency has secured overwhelming support from Europe’s energy ministers for the legislation that will ultimately ban Russian gas in the EU,” Lars Aagaard, Denmark’s Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities.

Gradual phase-out begins in 2026

While the final cut-off date is set for 1 January 2028, the legislation outlines a staggered approach:

• From 1 January 2026, no new contracts for Russian gas may be signed.

• For short-term contracts, the final date is 17 June 2026.

• For long-term contracts, the end date is the close of 2027.

To ensure full transparency and enforcement, EU gas importers will be required to disclose detailed information about the origin and export routes of imported gas. This will enable both the European Commission and national authorities to verify whether any imported gas has Russian origins.

The initiative underscores Europe’s ambition to build a resilient and secure energy system, less vulnerable to geopolitical pressures. With strong backing from the Council and the upcoming negotiations under the Danish presidency, the EU is now moving one step closer to ending its reliance on Russian gas once and for all.