The European Commission will not revise its timeline to phase out Russian gas, even as prices surge amid war in the Middle East.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU remains committed to ending imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the end of 2026, the Financial Times reported.
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“We have our clear targets and we are sticking to our clear targets,” she told reporters early on Friday in Brussels, rejecting suggestions the bloc could backtrack due to rising energy costs.
European gas prices have jumped about 30% after Israel struck major energy infrastructure, triggering retaliatory attacks by Iran across the region.
Despite the volatility, Brussels is pressing ahead. Bans on short-term LNG contracts take effect on April 25, with a full embargo set for January 2027.
Von der Leyen has repeatedly warned that a return to Russian gas would be a “strategic mistake.”
According to Eurostat, Russia still supplies about 16% of the EU’s LNG imports and roughly 13% of its total gas – leaving the bloc as Moscow’s largest LNG buyer.
