Austria urges EU to be open to importing gas from Russia

The Austrian Ministry of Energy believes that the European Union (EU) should be ready to reconsider the refusal to import Russian gas after the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict and be open to its import. This was reported on June 17 by the Financial Times newspaper.

"Brussels should retain the opportunity to review the situation [on Russian gas imports] after the end of the conflict [in Ukraine]," the Austrian Ministry of Energy told the publication.

According to the publication, Austrian State Secretary for Energy Elisabeth Zettner also called on her EU colleagues to consider this option at a meeting in Luxembourg.

It is noted that this is the first time since 2022 when an EU country, except Hungary and Slovakia, openly discusses the possibility of resuming imports of Russian gas after the end of the conflict in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the European Commission (EC) plans to ban new gas contracts with Russia and terminate existing ones within two years, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.

In addition, according to FT, Hungary and Slovakia are opposed to EU plans to abandon Russian fuel by 2027. Italy, the largest importer of Russian gas last year, also discussed the possibility of resuming supplies after the conflict ends, but has not officially commented on these conversations.

The EC plans to use trade legislation to ban Russian gas. European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jorgensen noted that "the ban will remain in effect until someone decides to change it." Some countries fear that companies will be able to invoke force majeure, but the Commissioner is confident that there will be no legal problems.

Gas intermission: Germany promotes the abandonment of energy resources from the Russian Federation by 2027

At the same time, Berlin continues to purchase Russian LNG.

European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jorgensen said at a press conference following a meeting of EU energy ministers in Luxembourg on June 16 that the European Commission does not intend to pay compensation to EU countries that are gradually abandoning Russian gas. In addition, the EC considers the abandonment of Russian gas as an element of a sustainable energy policy and intends to present on June 17 a new plan providing for a complete ban on gas purchases from the Russian Federation by 2027.