Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – EU diplomats said that the EU Commission did not propose a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in its latest package of restrictive measures because member nations presented concerns regarding first securing alternatives, including from the U.S. Reuters reported.
First, you have to have a deal because otherwise you will be left without gas from Russia and without the U.S.,
one of the diplomats expressed.
There was never an original measure, so I don’t think it’s useful to talk about it in terms of watering down,
one European diplomat informed Reuters.
The general idea was floated by the Commission in confessionals in order to test the waters…Apparently, one or more member (state) signalled enough opposition for the Commission not to deem it opportune to propose such a measure now.
How much has the EU reduced reliance on Russian gas?
Purchases of liquefied natural gas from Russia by the European Union are more complex compared to what they used to be after the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. Indeed, the EU has gained considerably in decreasing the use of Russian gas. In 2021, Russian gas covered 45% of total gas imported by the EU; its share decreased considerably. By 2023, the import of Russian pipeline gas was about 80% down.
Despite the sanctions and efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy, the importing of Russian LNG increased after the invasion of Ukraine. Total LNG imports into the EU increased significantly, reaching 134 bcm in 2023, which accounted for 42% of total gas imports. An important driver of this hike was the loss of pipeline supplies.
How is Russia adapting to EU energy restrictions?
In June 2024, the EU imposed an embargo on Russian LNG transshipments from its overall sanction package against Russia. This embargoes European ports from serving as transshipment points for the Russian LNGs, thereby heightening the tightness of measures against Russian energy exports to the European continent.
Russia had been utilizing northern European docks to do ship-to-ship moves of LNG for onwards travels to Asia. Since the prohibition took effect, more Moscow LNG has remained in Europe, provoking some member states to move for tighter controls and an all-out ban.
