The EU is slowly turning off the tap on Russian gas, but… Hungarians and Slovaks are turning it the other way

On Monday, energy ministers will adopt a position on a gradual ban on imports of Russian gas and oil to the EU. Slovakia and Hungary, which are against this, cannot block the regulation on this matter. However, they may oppose the 19th sanctions package, which provides for a ban on LNG imports from 2027.

Poland will be represented at the meeting of energy ministers in Luxembourg by the head of the ministry, Miłosz Motyka.

The draft regulation proposed by the European Commission in June provides for the introduction of a total ban on the import of Russian gas, both from pipelines and liquefied, from January 1, 2028. Certain restrictions are to come into force earlier. From January 1, 2026, the import of gas based on contracts concluded after June 17, 2025 will be prohibited.

Imports under short-term contracts will be suspended until June 17, 2026. Countries with no access to the sea, such as Slovakia and Hungary, will, however, be able to import raw materials transported via gas pipelines for a longer period of time – until the end of 2027.

According to the regulation, from January 1, 2028, the EU will not import blue fuel in any form.

Although the vote on the regulation is yet to take place, Mechthild Woersdoerfer, deputy head of DG Energy at the European Commission, who took part in the Energy Day organized by PKEE in Brussels on Tuesday, expressed her belief that the regulation will most likely be adopted. However, she added, not all member states would support this position.

Slovakia and Hungary loudly expressed their opposition to the regulation. However, both countries will not be able to block the regulations, because regulations are adopted by a qualified majority, which means that 15 countries, representing 65%, must vote in favor. the EU population, and the so-called At least four countries can form a blocking minority. Budapest and Bratislava will most likely be alone in their resistance.

After the vote on Monday, the presidency of the EU Council, currently held by Denmark, will be able to start working with the European Parliament on the final shape of the regulations. Woersdoerfer believes that they will be completed this year.

In the case of crude oil, EU countries still importing Russian oil will have to prepare supply diversification plans to gradually phase out all remaining oil imports from Russia, which are also expected to cease by the end of 2027.

Since proposing the regulation, the Commission has concluded that the EU can accelerate its transition away from Russian gas, especially liquefied gas. The acceleration occurred after a telephone conversation between EC President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump, who is pressuring Europe to give up Russian raw materials.

In September, von der Leyen proposed that as part of the 19th sanctions package, a ban on LNG imports would be introduced from January 1, 2027. This is the earliest date ever discussed for abandoning Russian gas. Its adoption would mean that the EU would give up importing gas in liquefied form almost five years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The EC explained this acceleration by the market situation and the emergence of new LNG sources. They are intended to make the market more liquid and better supplied.

According to the EC, Russian LNG in Europe is still purchased by Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Spain and Portugal. In turn, gas is imported via gas pipelines from Greece, Hungary and Slovakia.

A month after the proposal of new sanctions against Russia, there is still no unanimity among capitals. Slovakia wants the discussion on this topic to take place at the highest political level – the EU summit, which means that a decision would be possible no earlier than October 23, when the heads of state and government of the “27” will meet in Brussels for a meeting of the European Council.

Austria is also blocking new sanctions against Russia. Vienna began to demand that sanctions against one of the Russian oligarchs, Oleg Deripaska, be partially eased. He wants some of his frozen assets to be released and transferred to Raiffeisen Bank as compensation. This bank, despite the ongoing war, still operates in Russia, and the local court imposed a fine of EUR 2 billion on it. The assets would constitute compensation for this fine.

From Brussels Magdalena Cedro (PAP)

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