The European Parliament legislative resolution of 17 December 2025 on phasing out Russian natural gas imports is a first-reading position adopted by the European Parliament on a European Commission proposal for a regulation that would ban imports of Russian natural gas by late 2027.
Background Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union committed in the Versailles Declaration of March 2022 to phase out European dependency on Russian fossil fuels, including natural gas, as part of the REPowerEU strategy to improve energy security and diversification. At the time, Russia was the European Union's largest external supplier of natural gas.
As of October 2025, Russia accounted for 12% of EU gas imports, down from 45% before its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Several EU member states, including Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium and France, continue to import Russian gas under existing contracts.
Provisions The legislative resolution includes a prohibition on most imports of Russian natural gas, including both LNG and pipeline gas. Spot-market LNG will be banned once the regulation enters into force by the end of 2026, with phased-out pipeline supplies by 30 September 2027. It also noted the commission's plans to propose legislation in early 2026 to phase out Russian oil imports.
A prior authorization system was introduced to verify the origin of gas imports and prevent circumvention.
Legislative history On 17 June 2025, the European Commission submitted a proposal for a regulation to phase out imports of Russian pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG). A compromise between EU capitals and the European Parliament was reached in early December.
The proposal was examined by the Committee on International Trade and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, with the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection providing an opinion. National parliaments and EU advisory bodies, such as the European Economic and Social Committee, were also consulted.
Resolution to phase out Russian natural gas imports (European Parliament)Ballot →17 December 2025Required majority →327 out of 652Result →Approved Sources
On 17 December 2025, the European Parliament adopted its position at first reading on the text, and forwarded it to the Council of the European Union and the commission.
It was approved with 500 votes in favour, 120 against, and 32 abstentions. The majority of support came from the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, and most of the ECR. Opposition and abstentions came primarily from Eurosceptic and pro-Russian groups, such as the PfE, the ESN, and some members of The Left, which have historically favored maintaining energy ties with Russia despite Moscow's repeated use of gas as a political weapon.
The Parliament's position now awaits approval by the Council of the EU. The legislation was structured to be adopted by a qualified majority, enabling its approval despite opposition from Hungary and Slovakia, which have argued for maintaining energy and political ties with Russia.
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