EU plans to present a legislative initiative that provides for a complete ban on imports of Russian oil

The European Commission plans to present a legislative initiative in early 2026 that provides for a complete ban on imports of Russian oil into the European Union. This was announced by European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jorgensen, Ukrinform reports.

“Early next year, we will present a legislative proposal to ban the remaining Russian oil that is still entering the EU. This is an important step, even though we currently import more gas than oil. Our goal is to completely eliminate dependence on Russian energy,” Jorgensen stressed.

The European Commissioner noted that the EU will not repeat the mistakes of the past, when dependence on Russian energy resources created risks for the security and economy of the European Union. He recalled that imports of Russian gas are already banned, and this ban will be in effect in the long term, even in the event of a peace agreement.

Jorgensen also drew attention to the importance of integrating the energy systems of the EU countries. According to him, the current lack of coordination and the lack of proper connections make it difficult to use energy resources effectively in Europe, and this issue needs to be addressed urgently.

The European Union has been actively working in recent years to reduce its dependence on Russian energy resources. The ban on oil imports will be the next step after the already implemented sanctions against gas and other energy supplies from Russia.

It is expected that the European Commission's legislative proposal will be discussed at the level of EU member states, after which the process of coordination and adoption of a final decision will begin. This initiative is aimed at strengthening the energy independence of the European Union and reducing financial flows in favor of Russia.

The decision to ban the import of Russian oil may also stimulate European countries to accelerate the development of renewable energy sources and diversify oil supplies from other regions of the world.