Following a meeting with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen stated on Thursday that the EU remains committed to its 2028 deadline for phasing out Russian oil and gas imports, according to a Reuters report.
The European Union is currently engaged in complex negotiations regarding a comprehensive legal framework aimed at completely phasing out the import of Russian oil and gas.
The proposed timeline for this ambitious energy independence initiative is set for January 1, 2028.
A key component of this strategy includes an earlier ban on short-term contracts for Russian energy, which is anticipated to take effect starting next year.
US pressure and EU’s balancing act
This strategic pivot by the EU is driven by a confluence of geopolitical and economic factors, primarily stemming from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
However, the EU’s internal discussions and policy formulations are not occurring in isolation.
It faces considerable external pressure, most notably from the US, which has been advocating for a more rapid cessation of Russian energy imports.
This divergence in preferred timelines underscores the intricate balance the EU must strike between its long-term energy security goals, economic stability for its member states, and its commitment to international alliances.
The negotiations are expected to be challenging, as they involve delicate compromises among diverse national energy needs and economic vulnerabilities within the EU bloc.
On Wednesday, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU is exploring a more rapid phase-out of Russian fossil fuels.
This consideration is part of a new package of sanctions targeting Moscow.
Sanctions were not on the agenda during Jorgensen’s meeting with Wright in Brussels on Thursday, despite earlier discussions on the topic between EU officials and Washington this week.
Jorgensen prioritised securing swift approval from EU countries and lawmakers for the 2028 phase-out, noting its independence from any EU sanctions.
“This is a very, very ambitious plan,” he said.
If there are any other things that we can do, at the same time, that will also put pressure on Russia, I am of course very happy to do that.
Strategic implications and US exports
In a significant diplomatic move last week, US President Donald Trump urged European leaders to cease their procurement of oil from Russia.
This directive, communicated by a White House official, underscores a broader strategy aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The President’s appeal is rooted in the belief that cutting off a primary source of revenue for Russia, specifically through its oil exports, would exert substantial economic pressure and potentially hasten an end to hostilities.
This stance highlights a continuing effort by the United States to leverage economic sanctions and diplomatic influence to achieve its foreign policy objectives in Eastern Europe.
“Our goal is to deploy American energy exports to our allies around the world… That point I think hits home in Europe, where I am today, where almost 50% of imported natural gas came from Russia,” Wright told reporters after the meeting in Brussels.
We’re driving to move that to zero, and the biggest filler of that hole has been energy exports from the United States. We want to continue to do that, and end all Russian energy imports into the EU.
Jorgensen stated that the EU’s proposed 2028 phase-out is intended to avoid price increases and future supply issues, necessitating increased European purchases of US liquefied natural gas.
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