European Commission to Propose Ban on Russian Oil by 2027
Brussels: The European Commission is preparing legislative proposals to ban imports of Russian oil as part of the European Union’s plan to fully decouple its energy sector 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 September 30, 2027, and imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) beginning in early 2027.
The Commission said the EU now plans to extend these measures to crude oil, aiming to eliminate the remaining dependence on Russian energy. Russian crude oil and refined petroleum products currently account for about three percent of total EU oil imports.
Despite significant reductions 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 conduct a detailed assessment of the potential impact of accelerating the oil import ban, including effects on energy supply security, economic performance, and competitiveness, particularly for member states most exposed to Russian energy flows. EU officials said the review will focus on ensuring alternative supply routes and sufficient market capacity before implementing the final phase-out.
Earlier this week, the EU 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 conflict in Ukraine. The move reflects the EU’s effort to reduce strategic vulnerabilities stemming from decades of reliance on Russian gas, oil, and coal.
EU #Russia #OilBan #EnergySecurity #EuropeanCommission #UkraineConflict #GasLNG #EnergyDecoupling #diplomatsWorld
