The European Commission is preparing to unveil a legislative package that would require energy companies operating within the European Union to disclose detailed information about any existing contracts involving Russian gas, according to an internal document seen by Reuters.
The move forms part of broader proposals aimed at ending all Russian gas imports to the bloc by 31 December 2027, in line with long-term energy security goals and geopolitical pressure to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels. The package is expected to be formally presented on 17 June.
According to the document, which outlines the implementation strategy behind the proposed import ban, companies will be obligated to submit contract details including duration, annual volumes, destination clauses, and dates of signature. The Commission’s stated aim is to enable enforcement authorities to track compliance with the ban.
“The implementation of the measures – as designed in the proposal – requires comprehensive and systematic information about the existing contracts for Russian gas,” the Commission analysis reads.
Gas importers will also be required to provide documentary evidence on the origin of imported gas to ensure it is not sourced from Russia. In cases where the origin is not clearly non-Russian, importers must submit documentation to customs authorities demonstrating the provenance of the gas. This is designed to close loopholes whereby Russian gas may be re-routed through intermediary countries.
The legislative proposals will also include a phased restriction on liquefied natural gas (LNG) services involving Russian entities. As of 1 January 2026, EU LNG terminals will be prohibited from offering services to Russian customers under new short-term contracts. Existing short-term contracts will be allowed to continue until 17 June 2026. For long-term contracts, a final cut-off date has been set for 31 December 2027.
The Commission’s approach relies on legal instruments related to EU trade policy, although the document does not specify which mechanism will be invoked to implement the import ban. A Commission spokesperson declined to comment on the content of the draft proposals ahead of their publication.
The proposals are the most explicit attempt yet to formalise a full phase-out of Russian gas, following a sharp drop in imports since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022. Despite a significant decline, some member states continue to import Russian gas, including LNG, under existing commercial arrangements.
Analysts have raised questions about the feasibility of the Commission’s enforcement mechanisms. Simone Tagliapietra, a senior fellow at the Bruegel think tank, noted that previous efforts by governments to obtain contract-level data from private gas companies were met with resistance.
“Companies are likely to resist again, unless strong confidentiality protections are guaranteed,” Tagliapietra said. “A viable route for the Commission might be to mandate non-public disclosure to national regulators or to the Commission itself, under strict confidentiality conditions – possibly aggregated or anonymised for public reporting.”
While the proposals would introduce greater regulatory oversight of gas imports, enforcement will ultimately depend on national-level implementation and monitoring. Customs and energy regulators across the bloc would be tasked with verifying compliance.
The planned phase-out of Russian gas forms part of the EU’s broader efforts to recalibrate its energy system in the wake of supply shocks and price volatility triggered by the war in Ukraine. The bloc has sought to diversify sources, increase LNG imports from the United States and Qatar, and accelerate investments in renewables and energy efficiency.
However, the continued presence of Russian LNG in some European markets has drawn criticism from lawmakers and civil society groups. Several member states have called for a full legal ban, arguing that voluntary reductions are insufficient to end dependency.
The new disclosure obligations and service restrictions are intended to eliminate the opacity around Russian energy flows and prevent companies from circumventing political directives through contractual technicalities or third-party intermediaries.
The Commission’s proposals will now be subject to scrutiny and amendment by the European Parliament and Council. Some resistance is expected from member states with residual dependence on Russian gas, but the political consensus in favour of a clean break from Russian energy remains strong.
