Brussels,Oct 16, 2025 (Lusa) - The European Parliament on Thursday called for the European Union to stop importing liquefied natural gas from Russia from 1 January 2026, with a gradual ban applying to Portugal and seven other countries that still buy it.
At issue is a draft resolution approved today in Brussels by MEPs from the Industry, Research and Energy and International Trade committees, in which they defend preliminary plans to ban imports of Russian gas, by pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG), from 1 January 2026.
The aim of the initiative - approved by 83 votes in favour, nine against and one abstention - is to ‘protect the interests of the European Union [EU] against the instrumentalisation of energy supplies by the Russian Federation’, the European assembly said in a statement.
However, MEPs acknowledged limited exceptions for short-term contracts (until 17 June 2026) and long-term contracts (until 1 January 2027), provided they were concluded before 17 June 2025 and not amended thereafter.
Energy operators would be able to invoke force majeure to terminate Russian gas import contracts, given the legal prohibition.
MEPs also propose banning the temporary storage of natural gas of Russian origin in EU facilities from 1 January 2026 to prevent legal leaks and risks of circumvention.
From the same date, the European Parliament wants to ban all imports of Russian oil, including oil products derived from Russian crude, and to require prior customs authorisation and verification of origin.
Discussions will now begin with member states in the Council on this proposal.
The EU has set itself the goal of ending all imports of Russian LNG by the end of 2026, as part of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, ahead of the previous target of 2027.
Portugal is one of eight EU member states that will have to find alternatives to Russian gas imports by 1 January 2027, when the new sanctions package is approved.
Portugal still imports LNG from Russia, albeit in relatively small proportions.
In 2024, Portugal imported around 49,141 GWh (gigawatt-hours) of natural gas, of which approximately 96% was LNG. Of the total LNG, around 4.4% originated in Russia.
In addition, Russia's share of Portugal's LNG imports fell from around 15% in 2021 to 5% in 2024.
ANE/ADB // ADB.
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