Under the regulation, which was adopted despite opposition from Slovakia and Hungary, imports of Russian gas will be prohibited beginning Jan. 1, 2026, but existing contracts may continue under a transition period. Short-term contracts signed before June 17, 2025, may run until June 17, 2026; long-term contracts may remain in force until Jan. 1, 2028.
“Amendments to existing contracts will be permitted only for narrowly defined operational purposes and cannot lead to increased volumes, except for some specific flexibilities for landlocked member states affected by recent changes in supply routes,” the Council said in a statement.
To streamline imports of non-Russian gas, the regulation simplifies customs procedures and documentation: importers must supply permit authorities with information before the gas enters EU customs territory. By contrast, during the transition period, Russian imports require more detailed data, including contract dates, duration, volumes, and any changes to these parameters.
Both categories of imports will be subject to a preapproval regime to ensure the ban’s effectiveness. Applications for Russian gas and transition-period imports must be submitted at least one month before shipment date; for non-Russian gas, at least five days in advance. In the case of mixed LNG cargoes, documentation must specify the shares of Russian and non-Russian gas; only the non-Russian portion may be unloaded in the EU. The Council also introduced enhanced monitoring and alert mechanisms to prevent unauthorized transit of Russian gas through EU territory.
Member states are required to submit national diversification plans outlining measures and potential challenges in securing alternative suppliers. An exemption applies to countries that can demonstrate they no longer receive any direct or indirect gas shipments from Russia. A similar plan requirement will cover member states still importing Russian oil, with a view to ending those imports by Jan. 1, 2028.
Currently, Russia supplies roughly 15 percent of the EU’s LNG, making it the bloc’s second-largest energy supplier after the United States. The EU spends between EUR500 million ($582 million) and EUR700 million ($815 million) per month on Russian gas.
In September, U.S. President Donald Trump urged European leaders to stop buying Russian oil, saying it helps finance Moscow’s war against Ukraine.