EU commissioner says Union will not return to Russian energy even after war ends
Dan Jørgensen, EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing, has said that the European Union will not return to buying Russian oil and gas even after Russia's war against Ukraine comes to an end.
Source: Jørgensen in an interview with Euronews, an international news channel focused on Europe, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Jørgensen described the ban on Russian pipeline gas and LNG as "a point of no return moment" for the EU.
Quote: "When there is peace, … that will not mean that we will then just start buying gas again. This will stand also after a peace agreement, which, I think, is good, because we should never repeat the mistake of becoming dependent on Russia again."
Details: He recalled the surge in energy prices that shook the European economy after February 2022.
Jørgensen also expressed regret over Hungary's reaction, as Budapest has said it will challenge the Commission's proposal.
"I don't really understand these countries [Hungary and Slovakia – ed.]. I think we should stand together shoulder by shoulder against Putin to help our friends in Ukraine," he said, noting that the European Commission is ready to support all EU member states facing risks to their energy supplies.
Jørgensen also spoke about the difficulties EU lawmakers faced during the tough debates. The draft law had to be adopted as a trade procedure rather than a sanction because unanimity was lacking, while sanctions must be approved unanimously by all 27 EU member states.
"It is something that is happening gradually, and it is something that we can do in a way that will not have big negative effects," he said.
Background:
- On Tuesday 2 December, the Council Presidency and European Parliament negotiators reached a provisional political agreement on a regulation setting out the rules for the phase-out of imports of Russian natural gas by the end of 2027.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that the EU is currently paying Russia €1.5 billion every month for fossil fuel imports, but intends to reduce this figure to zero.
- The European Commission will present a legislative proposal early next year to introduce a full ban on imports of Russian oil into the EU.
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