EU gives up entirely of Russian fuels, even nuclear

The EU will put an end to its dependence on Russian energy sources, gradually stopping the import of gas, oil and nuclear fuel from Russia. This is clear from a roadmap proclaimed by the European Commission on Tuesday after repeated delay.

It envisages the termination of energy dependence on Russia until 2027, with the Uommission reporting that in June it would make legislative proposals for the implementation of the graph.

The Commission points out that despite the reduction in the use of Russian fuels due to sanctions due to the war in Ukraine and improved energy efficiency, « in 2024, in the EU, there is a restoration of imports of Russian gas » and the EU must coordinate its efforts to reduce its dependence on Russian energy sources, which threatens its security.

According to the UOOMISION, the measures that will be proposed is made to ensure the security of energy supplies and limit the impact on prices and markets.

Gas

The Commission says that liquefied natural gas will gradually displace deliveries on pipelines with forecasts for reducing natural gas demand, which the EU expects to drop by 40-50 billion cubic meters by 2027. At the same time, the liquefied gas capacity is expected by about 200 billion cubic meters, which is 2028 meters.

By the end of the year, European countries will have to prepare national plans to indicate how they will contribute to the gradual termination of the import of Russian gas, nuclear energy and oil.

Other measures announced by the European Commission include diversifying supplies, common orders for the purchase of fuels, more rational use of available infrastructure, enhancing monitoring and traceability of Russian gas in European markets. Among them are the obligations of companies to disclose the volumes and duration of their Russian gas contracts.

It is envisaged a ban on the conclusion of new contracts for the import of Russian gas and the termination of the current ones that have been in force by the end of 2025.

According to Brussels, from the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the import of Russian gas to the EU decreased by 150 billion cubic meters in 2021 to 52 billion cubic meters in 2024, with its share dropping from 45% to 19%.

The termination of existing long -term contracts is also envisaged by the end of 2027. Companies such as Total Energy and the Spanish Naturgy have contracts for liquefied natural gas from Russia, which continue until the end of the decade.

EU plans would affect countries, including Hungary and Slovakia, which still receive Russian gas gas, such as Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Spain, which buy Russian liquefied natural gas.

Oil

The import of raw oil and petroleum products to the EU is prohibited by sanctions imposed on the war in Ukraine. In the energy addiction road card, the Commission says it will propose additional measures to deal with the shady fleet – a fleet of tankers bought from Russia, but floating under a foreign flag that transport and transfer Russian fuel, bypassing the restrictions.

Reuters

Currently, only Hungary and Slovakia take advantage of exceptions to the sanctions, continuing to supply Russian oil on pipelines. According to the plans announced on Tuesday, they will have to find alternative suppliers by the end of 2027.

Currently, oil imports have shrunk from 27% in early 2022 to 3%.

Nuclear

The European Commission announces that it will propose the introduction of restrictions on the conclusion of new contracts for the supply of nuclear fuel, uranium, enriched uranium and other nuclear materials obtained from Russia. It is also envisaged to establish a European initiative for the Valley of Radio Isotopes to guarantee supplies to the EU on medical radioisotopes by increasing its own production.

In June, the European Commission will propose commercial measures aimed at the import of an enriched uranium from Russia in the form of a fee on imports.

The Commission did not specify a date for the gradual suspension of the import of Russian Uranus.

Five EU countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary and Slovakia, have reactors designed by Russian technologies and set up to work with Russian fuel. Although all, with the exception of Hungary, they have signed contracts for alternative supplies since 2022, long -standing periods of expectation mean that they are not able to move to them immediately, according to Reuters.

Veto

In anticipation of Hungary to block plans for the failure of Russian fuels, the European Commission plans to propose the measures so that a qualified majority is needed to accept them, not unanimity. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has repeatedly stated that any attempt to introduce sanctions related to energy, or other restrictions in this direction will be confronted with Hungarian veto.

However, with a qualified majority, one or two countries do not matter to acceptance, especially if they are small, such as Hungary and Slovakia, since the blocking quota requires 65% of the EU population behind them.

However, the plans will have to be approved by both the EU Council and the European Parliament, which will take time. Therefore, Reuters suggests that the ban on new gas deals with Russia, which will come into force by the end of the year, will have to be admitted to an accelerated procedure.

The effectiveness of EU measures will depend on the legal capabilities used, which the Commission does not specify on Tuesday. Energy Commissioner Dan Jogensen said proposals would act as a « force majeure » – an unpredictable event that companies could use as a ground for termination of gas contracts.

Attorneys, however, warned that in the absence of sanctions it would be difficult for buyers to terminate gas contracts using force majeure, without confronting financial sanctions or arbitration.