"The ban on Russian gas to be imported into the EU since the beginning of 2028 has been foregone.
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. This must be stopped, says Mr Michał Szczerba, associate of the European Parliament from the KO and the European People's Party.
There are besides skeptical voices that criticize ineffective sanctions and call them images
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.
– There are only 2 another countries, Slovakia and Hungary, and I think that they will submit, but it took rather a long time, due to the fact that the network of various connections, not only the supply of natural materials, but besides the business relations caused this issue to extend," added Mirosław Nykiel, an MEP from KO.
A complete departure from Russia's resources is possible, but let us ask ourselves whether Europe wants to do so
At its October session, the European Parliament supported the decision to initiate discussions with the Danish Presidency of the EU Council 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, which is to be the basis for discussions with the EP. According to the Polish Ministry of Energy, the full ban is to apply from 2028, but the full process will be implemented in stages: in the first stage, the ban will include the conclusion of fresh contracts, in the second phase – short-term contracts and in the 3rd phase – 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.
"I think that a complete departure from Russia's resources is possible, but let's ask ourselves whether Europe wants to do this, due to the fact that sanctions are very good for poorer countries of Europe, the richer countries of Europe are working very well in different directions through intermediaries," says Daniel Obietek, a Euro MP for Law and Justice. – 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.
Given the year 2024, the EU bought only 1% little gas than in 2023 from Russia, what sanctions are we talking about?
According to data from the European Commission on the basis of ENTSO-G and LSEG (as quoted on the EU Council website) in 2024, Norway was the largest gas supplier to the community, which accounts for 91.1 billion m3, or 33.4 percent of the supply. Russia accounted for 51.6 billion m3 (19% of full gas imports to the EU), both gas supplied by pipelines and LNG. If we were to treat both types of gas together, Russia would be second behind Norway.
– 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 volume from Russia, what sanctions are we talking about? – Daniel Obietek estimates. – Subsequent sanctions packages are image packages. We've had over 3 years of war in Ukraine, and nothing has truly changed. Russia grows stronger, while besides increasing in strength of China, they cooperate perfectly. 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.
The operation of the shadow fleet shows that Russia and its traders can circumvent sanctions
He stresses that the operation of the shadow fleet shows that Russia and its traders are able to circumvent sanctions. It can be the same this time. – If the states cut off [from supplies from Russia – ed.], then 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 possibly it'll be called Kazakh, but it'll be Russian. After the Nord Stream 1 cut off, did Germany halt 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 – the Polish politician estimates.
According to the Euro MP, the only effective way to reduce imports of Russian natural materials is to introduce advanced duties.
