Intense negotiations in the EU to block the methods of bypassing restrictions targeting Russian gas

The states of the European Union are trying to block the ways in which Russian gas could continue to circulate in Europe even after the gradual elimination of the Community Bloc has come into force, a project of the latest negotiation proposal, consulted by Reuters shows.

In June, the European Commission proposed a legislation for the gradual elimination of Russian oil and gas imports until January 1, 2028, in the context in which Brussels tries to break its energy relations with Russia, for decades, in the context of the war launched by Moscow against Ukraine in 2022.

The EU countries negotiate the plans and take into account proposals to try to make it difficult to re -establish Russian gas as being “transit” through Russia after it was produced in another country.

“The customs authorities should refuse the import of the alleged transit volumes, unless it can be provided unequivocally to prove that the gas was in transit through the Russian Federation and that it was produced in a country other than the Russian Federation,” the most recent negotiation proposal shows.

According to the project, especially the gas imported through the Turkstream pipeline – which comes from Russia to Turkey, after which it is transported to Bulgaria – should be considered Russian gas and not only gas that has transited Russia.

“The Russian Federation is a major gas exporter and has not played any visible role as the gas transit country in the past,” the project shows.

The proposal reflects the concerns that companies could re -authorize Russian gas imports to avoid EU prohibition. Proof of the origin of gases, which can be mixed in transit, is recognized as difficult.

A spokesman for Denmark, who holds the EU's rotary presidency and wrote the document, refused to comment.