EU acknowledges its members still rely on Russian gas

Despite a drastic reduction in EU gas imports from Russia, member states still rely heavily on on the country's supplies, European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson admitted to journalists on Wednesday.

Russian gas accounted for 18% of the EU’s imports as of June 2024, according to the European Commission’s latest report, which notes that Russian supplies accounted for 45% three years ago. The report added that imports from Norway and the US have increased.

“I know the numbers are still impressive, although they have fallen from 45% in 2021,” the energy commissioner said during a press conference in Brussels, as quoted by TASS.

According to Simson, EU member states are well prepared for a complete halt of Russian gas transit via Ukraine after the current agreement expires at the end of 2024.

Brokered by the EU, the five-year deal between Kiev and Moscow provides for Russian energy giant Gazprom to transit 65 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas through Ukraine in 2020, and 40 bcm annually from 2021 to 2024. Earlier this year, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky said Kiev would not extend the gas transit agreement after it expires on December 31.

“Referring to the lessons we’ve learned and considering the strengthened security of supply system, the EU is well prepared for next winter and the end of the gas transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine,” Simson said, emphasizing that the bloc “is ready to live” without this agreement thanks to alternative routes and sources of supplies.

EU companies can still legally purchase Russian gas, and will continue to do so until sanctions prohibit it, she noted, adding that Brussels should adhere to the sanctions policy against Moscow to support Ukraine.

Ukraine-related sanctions introduced by the EU against Russia have not targeted pipeline gas supplies, but many members, including Poland, Bulgaria, Finland, the Netherlands, and Denmark, have halted their imports voluntarily. However, several EU nations, including Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Italy are still importing Russian pipeline gas.

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