Members of the European Parliament at the October session supported the plan for a complete ban on gas imports from Russia. The EU Council besides agreed on this by adopting its negotiating position. Euro MPs say that this is an crucial and long-awaited political decision that will end the financing of Russia's war economy. However, there are besides skeptical voices that criticize ineffective sanctions and call them images.
– The ban on Russian gas to be imported into the European Union has been foregone since the beginning of 2028. That is why I believe that Hungarian and Slovak companies, collaborating with Putin's regime, will besides gotta suspend deliveries. all euro that flows to Russia is utilized for Putin's war economy. It should be stopped. says Newseria agency Michał Szczerba, associate of the European Parliament from the Civic Coalition and the European People's Party.
– There are only 2 another countries, Slovakia and Hungary, and I think that they will submit, but this took rather a long time, due to the fact that a network of various connections, not only the supply of natural materials, but besides business relations, made this case longer. – adds Mirosław Nykiel, MEP from KO.
At its October session, the European Parliament supported the decision to start talks with the Danish EU Council Presidency on the ban on Russian gas and oil imports. The EU energy ministers besides adopted a negotiating position on the withdrawal of imports of Russian natural gas to be the basis for discussions with the EP. According to the Polish Ministry of Energy, the full ban is expected to apply from 2028, but the full process will be implemented in stages: in the first stage, the ban will include fresh contracts, in the second stage, short-term contracts and in the 3rd stage, long-term contracts. The Ministry of Energy indicates that the proposed regulation is to cover both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The erstwhile goes to Hungary and Slovakia today, and the second mainly to France and Belgium.
– Above all, we must safeguard situations where gas or oil reaches us in a different form through intermediary countries. All these gaps request to be sealed and specialists are already working on it, they know how to do it. On the another hand, a political decision must be taken and here is the agreement on this subject – says Mirosław Nykiel.
– First of all, we can change the sources of supply. We have American LNG, Norwegian gas, it's all within scope of countries that want to become independent of Putin. There is no fake here, these are the specifics and actions that the Hungarians will gotta admit if they want to be part of the European Community. What the Chancellor Merz communicates is clear, Russian deliveries will be halted to Germany, which means full independency of this country from deliveries. Past mistakes, Angela Merkel's mistakes are fixed by Chancellor Merza, this position is unequivocal, consistent and pro-European – adds Michał Szczerba.
However, not all MEPs believe in this scenario.
– I believe that a complete departure from Russia's resources is possible, but let us ask ourselves whether Europe wants to do so, due to the fact that sanctions are very good for poorer countries of Europe, the richer countries of Europe cooperate in different directions through intermediaries “Daniel Obietek, MEP for Law and Justice, says. – Belgium, France, Spain – 100 percent more Russian LNG. Where did that gas come from? Through pipelines, interconnectors in Germany. Now there is simply a ban on the departure from Russian gas, this is 2026, possibly 2027, and we are not actually implementing any sanctions. We give Russia time to prepare.
According to data from the European Commission on the basis of ENTSO-G and LSEG (as cited on the EU Council website) in 2024, Norway was the largest gas supplier to the community, which accounts for 91.1 billion m333.4% of deliveries. Russia was 51.6 billion m3 (19% of full EU gas imports) – both gas supplied by pipelines and LNG. If we were to treat both types of gas together, Russia would be second behind Norway.
Data from the Energy and Clean Air investigation Centre (CREA) show that last year the European Union paid almost €22 billion for Russian fossil fuels. The September study of this organization indicates that the Union was the 4th recipient of Russian fossil fuels, accounting for 8% of Russia's export revenue. About 70% were pipeline gas and LNG and 29 percent were oil.
– China imports 58 percent oil from Russia, India almost 70%, about 20% of gas and 15% of coal. Then Turkey and Europe is number four. Given the year 2024, the EU bought only 1% little from Russia, what sanctions are we talking about? – judged by Daniel Obietek. – Subsequent sanctions packages are image packages. We've had over 3 years of war in Ukraine, and nothing has truly changed. Russia is increasing stronger, while China is increasing stronger, they are working very well together. I would like to point out that with all these unusual sanctions, Russian oil is definitely cheaper, Russian gas is cheaper too, so whose economy is developing more? Turkish, Chinese, Indian.
He stresses that the operation of the shadow fleet shows that Russia and its traders can circumvent sanctions. It can be the same this time.
– If the states cut off [from supplies from Russia – ed.], their companies will carry out this business by exchanging papers and gas and oil will proceed to be Russian. You'll see, it won't be a year and a half, and through Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, there will be Russian gas, and it'll most likely be called Kazakh, but it'll be Russian. After the Nord Stream 1, Nord Stream 2 stopped the construction of interconnectors and gas networks? They build these gas networks in hundreds of kilometers. Why? They are preparing to be a gas hub for the full of Europe and to bring gas at far different discounts than those recorded from Russia. – assesses Polish politician.
According to the Euro MP, the only effective way to reduce imports of Russian natural materials is to introduce advanced duties.
“Russia is looking for another directions, expanding deliveries to China, India and Turkey, working well with Iran, building shadow fleets, making trades, that is, exchanges at sea. She went on a higher level with logistics and becomes more resilient. The most honest thing is so to ‘cut’ the appropriate duties. Secondly, goods from 3rd countries must besides be customsed. The work must be the difference between the price of oil and the cost of the Green Deal, so only then will we be competitive – advocates Daniel Obatek.
