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End of Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline in Lubmin: no gas has arrived here since summer 2022
Photo: BildFunkMV / IMAGO
The European Union wants to allow its member states to stop gas imports from Russia and Belarus, according to a report. EU states are to be allowed to deny companies from Russia and Belarus access to gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas terminals, reports the Financial Times, citing a draft legal text proposed by Brussels.
EU member states will have the power to partially or, where justified, completely restrict access to infrastructure for gas companies from Russia and Belarus in order to protect their vital security interests, the newspaper reported. Negotiators from member states and the European Parliament are expected to approve the provisional text on Friday.
A lot of LNG from Russia
The proposal, according to the Financial Times, citing an EU official, could provide a basis for EU energy companies to withdraw from contracts with Russian gas suppliers without having to pay high compensation.
Even though the 27 EU states actually want to turn away from Russian oil and gas, according to the newspaper, they still get around ten percent of their gas from Russia even after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Before the winter, member states had joined forces to replenish gas reserves for the winter.
Recently, it has been imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia in particular that have risen sharply to Europe. On the other hand, nothing has been flowing through the Baltic Sea pipelines in the traditional way since Russia stopped supplying Germany in the summer of 2022. Read more here: Europe is Putin's best customer.
EU member states are also currently discussing a proposal by the European Commission to impose another package of economic sanctions against Russia.
Apr