The REPowerEU gas regulation, which establishes a gradual phase-out of imports of Russian pipeline gas and LNG into the EU, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on February 2.
This was reported by the EU press service.
“the REPowerEU gas regulation (EU/2026/261) sets out the legal provisions to phase out natural gas imports from Russia. This historic decision, taken at the end of last year, aims to end the EU's dependence on gas from Russia, once and for all, by 2027,” the EU statement said.
It is noted that following its publication in the Official Journal, the REPowerEU regulation enters into force the next day, on February 3.
The regulation prohibits the following:
- From 25 April 2026: short-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) contracts
- From 17 June 2026: short-term pipeline gas contracts
- From 1 January 2027: long-term contracts for LNG imports
- From 30 September 2027: pipeline gas imports under long-term contracts. Exceptionally, Member States can extend this deadline until 31 October 2027 in case their gas storage is filled below the required levels
In exceptional cases, EU member states may extend this deadline until October 31, 2027, if their gas storage facilities are filled below the required level, the EU press service reported.
