17:39 - 23.04.2025

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April 23, Fineko/abc.az. The European Commission is assessing whether it can adopt a law prohibiting EU firms from signing new contracts for Russian fossil fuels, ABC.AZ reports, quoting a senior EU official.

While some member states promise to block any EU sanctions on Russian gas, the Commission is instead considering other tools that could accelerate the end of Europe's dependence on Russian energy. It plans to outline options for this in the roadmap, which is due to be presented on May 6. A possible step to ban new contracts is aimed at reducing spot purchases by European companies of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), the agency notes. In Russia, its main producers are Gazprom and NOVATEK.

The Commission said any measures to restrict Russian energy imports should be more damaging to Moscow than to the EU and take into account the impact on energy security and fuel prices in Europe.