Overview
- The REPowerEU Gas Regulation entered into force on Feb. 3 after its publication in the EU’s Official Journal.
- Contract cutoffs are staged as follows: from April 25, 2026 short‑term LNG contracts are banned; from June 17, 2026 short‑term pipeline contracts are banned; from Jan. 1, 2027 long‑term LNG contracts are banned; from Sept. 30, 2027 long‑term pipeline imports are banned, with a possible extension to Oct. 31, 2027 for countries below storage thresholds.
- Hungary filed an annulment case at the European Court of Justice, arguing the Council improperly used qualified‑majority trade rules rather than unanimous sanctions and that energy choices fall under national competence.
- The Commission says member states may contest the measure but it will argue in court to uphold the regulation and its 2027 objective to end dependence on Russian gas.
- The framework foresees fines for violations, and Slovakia has signaled it plans a similar legal challenge.