Brussels, Feb. 03 (SANA) – The European Commission is preparing to present legislative proposals to ban imports of Russian oil as part of the European Union’s plan to complete its energy decoupling from Moscow by the end of 2027.
According to a Commission statement cited by Italy’s AKI news agency, new regulations have already been issued banning imports of Russian gas via pipelines starting Sept. 30, 2027, and imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) beginning in early 2027.
The Commission said the European Union is now preparing to extend these measures to crude oil, with the aim of eliminating remaining dependence on Russian energy supplies. It noted that Russian crude oil and refined petroleum products currently represent about 3 percent of total EU oil imports.
Despite the sharp reduction in volumes since 2022, Hungary and Slovakia remain the only EU member states still importing Russian oil through pipeline infrastructure, under existing exemptions.
“To avoid serious risks to energy security and dependency resulting from the continuation of trade with Russia in the energy sector, the European Commission reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the gradual elimination of all remaining oil imports from Russia by the end of 2027, in line with the Versailles Declaration,” the statement said.
The Commission added that it will carry out a detailed assessment of the potential impact of accelerating the oil import ban, examining effects on energy supply security, economic performance and competitiveness, particularly for member states most exposed to Russian energy flows.
EU officials said the assessment will focus on ensuring alternative supply routes and sufficient market capacity before the final phase-out is implemented.
Earlier this week, the European Union formally approved legislation banning imports of Russian gas by late 2027, marking another step in the bloc’s long-term strategy to restructure its energy system following the Ukraine conflict.
The move is rooted in the EU’s response to the conflict in Ukraine and the subsequent deterioration of relations with Moscow. Since 2022, Brussels has pursued a policy of reducing what it describes as strategic vulnerabilities stemming from heavy reliance on Russian energy, which for decades supplied a significant share of the bloc’s gas, oil and coal.
M.S
