EU split over Russian LNG: France and Belgium hold back import ban

The European Union is preparing for another step in its energy distancing from Russia — a ban on imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). However, the European Commission’s initiative, which envisages a complete rejection of Russian gas by 2027, has met with resistance from two key players — France and Belgium. Both countries, which are leaders in terms of purchases of Russian LNG in the EU, are demanding a thorough analysis of the consequences of such a step.

France, which is currently the largest importer of Russian LNG among the EU countries, is in favor of a cautious and phased approach. French Energy Minister Marc Ferracci stressed that Paris supports a strategy of diversifying supplies, in particular by strengthening cooperation with Qatar. The French side does not deny the need to reduce dependence on Russian fuel, but emphasizes the need for guarantees of energy security during the transition.

Belgium, the EU's second-largest buyer of Russian LNG, has expressed similar reservations. Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Biele said the country is demanding an economic analysis of the potential impact of a complete phasing out of Russian LNG, particularly on national infrastructure. Brussels plans to hold technical consultations before making a final decision.

In contrast to the cautious stance of France and Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands have expressed support for the European Commission's initiative. These countries - the third and fourth largest importers of Russian LNG respectively - are ready to stop short-term purchases this year and also to wind down long-term contracts by 2027. Notably, Spain is currently obliged to buy LNG from the Russian company Novatek until 2042 under a contract with *Naturgy*.

According to data for 2023, the four countries mentioned above together imported 16.77 million tons of Russian LNG – this is 97% of all Russian gas imports into the EU and more than half of Russia’s total exports of this type of fuel. The value of such purchases exceeded 6 billion euros, which underlines the scale of dependence and financial significance for both sides.

The European Commission plans to officially present a legislative proposal for a phase-out of Russian LNG imports next month. However, resistance from France, Belgium, as well as the expected reluctance of Hungary and Slovakia to support the innovation may complicate the decision-making process. The division in the approaches of the member states threatens to delay the process, which is of critical importance for Europe’s energy independence.