The European Commission has granted six countries – Algeria, Nigeria, Norway, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United States – an exemption from prior authorisation requirements for natural gas imports under the RePowerEU Regulation.

What does this mean?

Gas sourced from these six countries will no longer require prior authorisation under Article 5(3) or evidence

I was recently quoted in TradeWinds on the growing number of tankers going dark as the EU considers expanding restrictions on maritime services connected to Russia’s oil trade.

https://www.tradewindsnews.com/tankers/dozens-more-tankers-going-dark-as-eu-eyes-russian-maritime-services-ban/2-1-1941406

It now looks increasingly certain that the EU, and likely the UK, will move to a comprehensive maritime services ban on the carriage of Russian crude

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

Key Takeaways

  • The measure seeks to close remaining ‘loopholes’ in the EU’s Russian oil embargo and maintain consistency with allied sanctions.
  • The safe-harbour country presumption eases compliance for imports from established crude exporters but can be rebutted by competent Member State authorities.
  • Risk-based due diligence remains essential: importers must be ready to demonstrate non-Russian origin if challenged.
  • Companies should now review supply chains, update contractual clauses, and ensure they can substantiate origin claims in due course.
  • On 15 October 2025, the UK announced intent to impose similar measures in due course.
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On 18 July 2025, the EU announced the 18th sanctions package against Russia and Belarus. The legislative texts were published on 19 July 2025. As of this date, the latest restrictions indicate a misalignment between the EU / UK, and other G7 members, including the United States.

Continue Reading EU-nough Russian Oil – EU’s 18th Sanctions Package

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