EU’s Russian Gas Ban Faces Resistance from France and Belgium

France and Belgium, two of the largest European importers of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), have voiced strong opposition to the European Commission's proposed plan to phase out Russian gas imports, potentially complicating the EU's strategy to reduce its dependence on Russian energy.

The Gaze reports on this with reference to Politico.

Together, France and Belgium accounted for almost 97% of the EU’s total LNG imports from Russia in 2024, making their stance particularly influential in the debate over Europe’s energy future. Both countries have raised significant concerns about the economic and legal ramifications of the Russian gas ban. 

France, which is the EU's largest consumer of Russian LNG, has stated a preference for seeking alternative energy supplies, particularly from Qatar. 

French Minister of Energy Marc Ferracci emphasized the importance of “legal certainty,” warning that European companies could face lawsuits from Russia for breaching long-term contracts. 

Notably, French energy giant TotalEnergies is bound by a contract with Russia’s Novatek until 2032 and also holds a significant stake in the Yamal LNG project in Siberia.

Belgium, the second-largest importer of Russian LNG in the EU, shares similar concerns. The Belgian government has requested the European Commission to present a detailed impact assessment, focusing on the potential economic consequences of cutting Russian gas supplies. 

Belgium’s Energy Minister, Mathieu Bies, has called for in-depth technical discussions to evaluate how such measures would affect the country's LNG infrastructure before any decisions are made.

This opposition from France and Belgium stands in contrast to the positions of other major EU LNG importers, such as Spain and the Netherlands, which have expressed their willingness to support the Commission's proposal. 

Amid this controversy, the European Commission is preparing a comprehensive assessment to address the potential consequences of ending Russian energy imports. The final proposal will likely require careful negotiations and compromise, as the EU seeks to balance its energy security concerns with the legal and economic realities faced by member states.

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