Overview
- COREPER I in Brussels confirmed a final compromise on the Regulation, with all member states except two backing the deal.
- The accord sets staggered cutoffs by contract type: Russian LNG ends 25 April 2026 for short-term deals and 1 January 2027 for long-term.
- Pipeline gas stops 17 June 2026 for short-term contracts and 30 September 2027 for long-term, slipping to 1 November 2027 if storage targets are missed.
- Strong enforcement and anti-circumvention tools include prior authorisations, transparency and traceability requirements, and oversight by ACER, the European Public Prosecutor's Office and OLAF.
- Parliament is expected to vote in early 2026 before formal Council endorsement, as EU leaders cast the move as draining Russia’s war revenues and the Kremlin warns of economic harm to Europe.