EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, is striving for an agreement on a permanent phase-out of Russian fossil energy during the Danish EU presidency. This goal was announced ahead of an informal meeting of energy ministers in Copenhagen.

Jørgensen acknowledged the challenges in reaching a unanimous decision. “I hope we reach an agreement where all countries are on board. But I am of course fully aware that some countries have concerns,” he stated.

The announcement follows Austria’s suggestion that the EU should consider resuming gas purchases from Russia if a peace agreement is reached with Ukraine. Austria, along with Hungary and Slovakia, lacks coastlines and is heavily reliant on Russian gas transported via pipelines.

The EU Commission is focused on ensuring alternative solutions for all EU member states as they transition away from Russian fossil fuels. Jørgensen emphasized the importance of supporting these countries to prevent any threats to their energy supply security.

A portion of the replacement energy is expected to come from the United States, as part of a trade agreement where the EU committed to purchasing $750 billion worth of American energy over three years.

Even without unanimous support, the EU can still move forward with phasing out Russian oil and gas, as the decision can be made by qualified majority.

Jørgensen stressed the significance of a unified EU stance on this issue, stating it would send “a very strong signal to Russia.” He expressed confidence in the Danish EU presidency’s efforts to find a solution within the coming months, emphasizing the urgency of implementing the changes by January 1.

Specifically, the EU Commission has proposed that all EU countries cease using Russian gas from short contracts by January 1, 2026, and exit long-term contracts by the end of 2027, potentially leading to a ban on Russian gas by January 1, 2028.

Recent figures from June revealed that EU countries were still purchasing nearly two billion euros worth of Russian gas per month, which translates to approximately 180 billion kroner annually, funds that Russia can use to finance the war in Ukraine.