Following the EU’s existing embargo on Russian crude oil and petroleum products, the European Commission has proposed, and the Council has now agreed in principle, a complementary Regulation designed to end the remaining inflows of Russian natural gas into the Union. The measure gives legal effect to the Commission’s May 2025 Roadmap towards ending Russian energy imports (see our previous client alert here) and forms part of the wider REPowerEU strategy, which is distinct from and separate to the EU’s sanctions programme. It will now proceed to negotiations with the European Parliament before formal adoption.

The Regulation establishes a binding timetable for the phase-out of Russian gas imports, while introducing a uniform authorisation system and stricter transparency requirements across Member States. The Council agreed its General Approach by a qualified majority.

The Council’s agreement represents its General Approach under the EU’s legislative procedure. The next step is for the European Parliament to adopt its own position on the proposal. Once both institutions have agreed their respective positions, negotiations (trilogues) between the Council, Parliament, and Commission will take place to settle the final text. The Regulation will then be formally adopted and published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Our lawyers delve into the details of this Regulation in their latest client alert.