EU plan to end Russian gas imports faces legal, geopolitical snags

BRUSSELS, May 6, 2025 – The EU’s plan to fully cut off Russian gas imports by 2027 faces legal, logistical and political hurdles.

Although the bloc has slashed Russian gas from 45% of its supply in 2021 to 19% in 2024, fully severing ties is proving difficult. Long-term contracts with companies such as TotalEnergies and Naturgy, lasting into the 2030s, are a major obstacle. Brussels is weighing “force majeure” clauses to exit these deals, but legal experts caution that without sanctions, such moves could spark costly arbitration.

On May 5, the European Commission unveiled a draft plan to end all Russian gas imports by 2027. It proposes banning new contracts for Russian pipeline gas and LNG from the end of 2025, and legally terminating existing deals by the end of 2027.

The proposal, due to be finalised by June, marks the EU’s strongest legal move yet to codify its break from Russian energy. The draft still needs approval from member states and the European Parliament, where resistance is expected from countries still reliant on Russian supply.

Resistance is also expected from Hungary and Slovakia, which still depend on Russian pipeline gas. They fear higher prices and supply instability. On top of that, the gas transit deal between Ukraine and Russia expires at the end of 2024, potentially disrupting flows to Europe. The EU’s pivot to US and Qatari LNG brings new challenges too—costs are higher, and infrastructure gaps remain.

This push is part of the EU’s broader response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In June 2025, the European Commission plans to propose legal bans on new Russian gas deals by year-end, and phase out existing ones by 2027. The strategy aims to lock in gains from the past two years of diversification. But as these challenges show, the final steps could be the hardest.

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