A qualified majority of EU countries have said yes to the EU Commission's proposal to phase out imports of Russian gas by January 2028. This is according to Minister for Climate and Energy Lars Aagaard (M).
- An energy-independent Europe is a stronger and more secure Europe, says Lars Aagaard.
The agreement must now be finally negotiated with the EU Parliament before it can enter into force. If successful, the EU will introduce a legally binding gradual ban on imports of both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia.
The ultimate goal is a complete ban, which will apply from 1 January 2028. This is an "ambitious signal" about the will to implement the phase-out, says Lars Aagaard. The agreement is also one of the most significant during the Danish EU presidency, which began on July 1.
- Although we have worked hard and pressed to get Russian gas and oil out of Europe in recent years, we are not there yet.
- Therefore, it is crucial that the Danish presidency has secured overwhelming support from Europe's energy ministers for legislation that will definitively ban Russian gas in the EU, says Lars Aagaard.
In order to secure energy supply - while EU countries find alternatives - the agreement includes a transition period for existing contracts. Short-term contracts entered into before June 17, 2025, can continue until June 17, 2026, according to the agreement. Long-term contracts can run until January 1, 2028.
DI: Environmentally friendly substitutes must be found
A final farewell to Russian gas from 2028 is positive, but it also requires that an environmentally friendly alternative be found, believes Deputy Director of the Confederation of Danish Industries Troels Ranis.
- The EU and Denmark must make every effort in relation to electrification and the expansion with biogas, so that we have our own, environmentally friendly substitute for Russian gas, says Troels Ranis.
Only two of the 27 EU countries voted against the phasing out of Russian gas. Those countries could be Hungary and Slovakia, both of which have previously expressed their opposition to the proposal.
The two countries have argued that they are having difficulty finding a replacement for Russian gas.
EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen promised again on Monday that the EU Commission will help find solutions.
/ritzau/
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