The deal was struck overnight by negotiators from the European Parliament and the Danish EU presidency.
Under the plan, gas deliveries from Russia will be gradually reduced.
Short-term contracts will be terminated from mid-next year, with a complete ban on liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Russia starting in January 2027, and pipeline gas imports ending by the end of September 2027.
The timeline coincides with the expiry of long-term contracts, but the ban is conditional on European gas storage levels being sufficiently filled. If not, the full ban will come into effect in November.
Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, called the move "a landmark moment for Europe."
"This decision strikes at the heart of Russia’s war-financing machine and boosts Europe’s long-term energy security," she added.
EU officials welcome the agreement
“Europe is shutting off the tap on Russian gas - for good,” said EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen. “We have chosen energy security. No more blackmail. No more market manipulation by Putin.”
Danish Climate and Energy Minister Lars Aagaard called the agreement “a major victory for Europe and a boost to energy security.”
US pressure and current imports
The EU has also faced pressure from the United States, which has repeatedly criticised European countries for buying Russian energy and encouraged a shift to US-supplied LNG.
In October, Russian gas accounted for 12% of EU imports, down from 45% before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Some countries, including Hungary, France, and Belgium, still import Russian gas, according to Reuters.
(mp)
Source: PR24/IAR/Reuters/X/@EP_President/@DanJoergensen