EU moves to ban all Russian oil, gas by 2028, overriding Hungarian objections

Reuters reported the information.

Diplomats stated that almost all EU countries have expressed support for these plans, indicating that the law will be easily passed despite criticism from Hungary and Slovakia.

To pass this law, unanimous support from EU countries is not required. The rule of qualified majority applies here, where a decision must be approved by 55% of all member states.

Negotiations on technical changes to the document are still ongoing. One of the unresolved issues is whether the export of liquefied natural gas to Europe should require prior approval and, upon arrival at EU ports, verification of its origin to confirm it is not Russian.

France and Italy support the plan but want authorities to either pre-approve shipments (if it can be done quickly) or check them after arrival in the EU to ensure the ban is enforced.

Countries such as Hungary, France, and Belgium still import Russian gas, which accounts for 12% of the EU's gas imports, compared to 45% before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The law will oblige Hungary and Slovakia – two countries that still import Russian oil – to develop national plans to cease these imports by 2028.

• The European Commission proposes to completely stop the import of gas and oil from the Russian Federation by the end of 2027. According to the proposal, new contracts for the import of Russian gas will be banned from January 1, 2026. The final measures require approval from the European Parliament and a qualified majority in the EU Council. This means that they cannot be blocked by Hungary and Slovakia, which still import Russian gas by pipeline and oppose the EU's plans.