EU to fully ban imports of Russian natural gas by autumn 2027

The Council of the European Union announced on its website on the 3rd that the EU will fully ban imports of Russian natural gas starting in autumn 2027.

The announcement stated that representatives from the Council and the European Parliament have reached an agreement to gradually implement a complete ban on Russian gas imports. The agreement stipulates that the ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) will take effect by the end of 2026, while the ban on pipeline gas imports will come into force in autumn 2027.

Lars Aagard, Denmark's Minister for Climate, Energy, and Utilities and current President of the Council of the EU, said the EU must end its dependence on Russian gas. To strengthen EU security and ensure energy supply, member states and the European Parliament swiftly reached this agreement.

On October 27, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report stating that during the first three quarters of 2025, Russia's natural gas exports to Europe declined sharply, with LNG exports down 10% year-on-year and pipeline gas exports down 45%. The report forecasts that Europe's total LNG imports for this year will reach a record high, increasing by approximately 20% compared to 2024. European LNG prices remain high due to rising consumption demand and reduced pipeline gas imports.