The EU will completely ban the import of Russian natural gas by autumn 2027

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The European Council announced on its website on the 3rd that the EU will impose a complete ban on the import of Russian natural gas starting in the autumn of 2027.   Reports say that members of the European Council and the European Parliament have reached an agreement to phase out Russian natural gas imports until a complete ban is in place. The agreement stipulates that the ban on Russian LNG imports will take effect at the end of 2026, while the ban on pipeline natural gas imports will come into force in the autumn of 2027.   Lars Øgaard, Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities and the current rotating presidency country of the EU, said that the EU must end its dependence on Russian gas. To strengthen EU security and ensure energy supply, the member states and the European Parliament swiftly reached the aforementioned agreement.   A report released by the International Energy Agency on October 27 stated that in the first three quarters of 2025, Russia’s gas exports to Europe declined significantly: liquefied natural gas exports dropped by 10% year-on-year, while pipeline gas exports fell by 45%. The report predicts that European imports of liquefied natural gas will reach a record high this year, increasing by about 20% compared to 2024. Due to rising consumer demand and reduced imports of pipeline gas, liquefied natural gas prices in Europe remain high.