The European Union is working to boost gas imports from the United States and other countries to replace Russian supplies, according to EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen in a joint media interview on February 21, Reuters reported.
The EU began reducing its reliance on Russian energy after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while Gazprom steadily decreased gas flows to the EU to exert pressure on Ukraine’s allies. As of January, Russian gas imports to the EU had dropped by 75%, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
Jorgensen also highlighted the EU’s push to accelerate the development of renewable energy to decrease its overall dependence on fossil fuels. “Instead of using taxpayers’ money to fund gas imports that benefit Putin’s war efforts, we must focus on producing our own energy,” Jorgensen explained.
To support this goal, Jorgensen noted that Brussels is working on changes to its permitting rules to speed up the construction of renewable energy facilities. The EU is also intensifying efforts to find alternative energy sources for industrial and residential heating, where gas cannot easily be replaced by electricity.
“Gas will still be needed, and we will need to find sources other than Russia, including more imports from the U.S.,” Jorgensen said. The U.S. has been increasing its exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe to help reduce the continent’s dependency on Russia.
Kyiv’s decision not to extend its gas transit deal with Gazprom beyond December 2024 will end Russian pipeline gas supplies to the EU. However, European countries continue to purchase Russian LNG, setting new records in 2024.
The EU has made it clear that there is no link between the potential resumption of Russian pipeline gas purchases and peace talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
In its 14th sanctions package, introduced in June 2024, the EU imposed its first major restrictions on Russian gas, including LNG. Despite these sanctions, Russia remains the EU’s second-largest LNG supplier after the U.S.
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