Last week marked a historic turning point in Europe's energy independence and security, with the adoption of legislation ending Russian gas imports to the European Union. The legislation came from the European Parliament Committees on International Trade (INTA) and on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE).
Renew Europe pushed for several key amendments that were crucial in strengthening this legislation. They called for an accelerated timeline, bringing the end date for long-term Russian gas contracts forward a year from January 2028 to January 2027. They also urged for the introduction of penalties for companies that violate the regulation.
The Group also fought to expand the scope of the regulation beyond gas to include Russian oil. They ensured that so-called "landlocked countries" would not receive special exemptions, diminishing any excuses for continued Russian energy dependence.
There are viable alternatives to Russian gas which can be brought in effectively. Renew Europe believes this transition is feasible with European solidarity and technical solutions supported by EU member states and institutions. The Baltic states already demonstrated the possibility of breaking free from Russian energy without disruption. An EU-wide phase-out is both achievable and necessary.
Ľubica Karvašová MEP (Progressive Slovakia, SK), Renew Europe shadow rapporteur for INTA, emphasised:
"Today is a key day for the future of Europe’s energy independence. A broad pro-European majority in the European Parliament recognises this from the onset. We in Renew Europe and Progressive Slovakia are ready to adapt to the new reality, unlike Prime Ministers Fico and Orbán, who live in both denial and the past."
Katri Kulmuni MEP (Keskusta, FI), Renew Europe shadow rapporteur for ITRE, added:
"The EU must free itself from all dependencies, financing Putin's war through energy imports must come to an end.”