LOC12:50
09:50 GMT
BRUSSELS, Dec 3 (KUNA) -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Wednesday that the European Union has entered "a new era" of energy independence following a provisional agreement between the European Parliament and member states to completely phase out Russian gas imports by autumn 2027.
Von der Leyen said in a press statement that "today is a historic day for our Union," emphasizing that the agreement marks the definitive end of dependence on Russian energy and commending the joint European efforts that enabled the bloc to overcome its most severe energy crisis in decades.
She noted that import levels demonstrate the progress achieved, with Russian gas including LNG and pipeline supplies reduced from 45 percent to 13 percent, coal imports from 51 percent to zero, and crude oil from 26 percent to two percent.
She added that EU payments to Russia had fallen from 12 billion euros per month at the start of the war to 1.5 billion, stressing the aim of reducing this figure to zero.
Under the agreement, long-term contracts for pipeline gas will be banned from 30 September 2027 and no later than 1 November the same year, while long-term contracts for liquefied natural gas will be prohibited beginning 1 January 2027. Short-term LNG and gas contracts will be phased out gradually starting in April and June 2026.
The framework also allows energy companies to invoke force majeure to legally terminate existing contracts covered by the EU's new import restrictions.
The European Commission said the measure aims to end dependence on Russian energy following what it described as Russia's "weaponisation" of gas supplies, which severely affected Europe's energy market and security of supply.
The agreement will take effect after formal approval from the European Parliament and EU member states. (end)
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