The European Union has announced its intention to completely eliminate dependence on Russian energy resources by the end of 2027, taking another step toward energy independence and security
The ambitious plan involves not only a full cessation of Russian gas imports but also a significant reduction in Russian oil purchases, intensified efforts to combat illegal shipping of Russia’s “shadow” fleet, and a decrease in reliance on Russian resources in the nuclear sector, including restrictions on uranium supplies. This strategic document, known as the Roadmap to the REPowerEU plan, was unveiled on May 6 in Strasbourg by European Commissioner for Energy, Deno Jørgensen. In his speech, he emphasized that a key goal is to phase out Russian energy resources, especially gas, within three years. “The European Union has now charted a clear path toward energy independence — to stop importing Russian gas by the end of 2027,” Jørgensen stated, adding that in June 2025, the European Commission will present legislative proposals to implement this plan. According to the European official, by the end of 2025, each EU member country must prepare its own national plans for a gradual phase-out of Russian energy resources — not only gas but also oil and nuclear energy. This means all participants need to intensify efforts toward diversification of supplies and seeking alternative energy sources. Data from the document, which is available to “European Truth,” indicate that in 2024, the European Union imported about 52 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia — including 32 billion cubic meters of pipeline gas and over 20 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas (LNG). This accounted for nearly 19% of the EU’s total gas imports. Furthermore, last year, Poland, Italy, France, Germany, and several other countries continued to purchase Russian crude oil — approximately 13 million tons — as well as over 2,800 tons of uranium in enriched or fuel form. It is important to note that ten out of 27 EU member states remained importing Russian gas in 2024, while only three countries continued to receive Russian oil, and seven countries obtain uranium or related services involved in its processing. This highlights the remaining dependency in some regions of the EU, although a gradual reduction is already embedded in strategic plans. Regarding specific measures, the road map envisages that new contracts with Russian gas suppliers — whether pipeline or LNG — will not be concluded. Existing short-term contractual obligations will be gradually phased out by the end of 2025, allowing a reduction of remaining Russian gas imports by one-third already by the end of 2024. Ultimately, all Russian gas imports are to be completely terminated by the end of 2027. In the oil sector, despite Russian oil's share dropping to about 3% of total imports in 2024, the EU is implementing additional measures to combat illegal transportation of Russian oil via the shadow fleet, which still facilitates illicit imports. Additionally, measures are planned to restrict uranium and enriched uranium supplies imported from Russia, an essential component for European nuclear facilities. This includes the initiative “European Valley of Radioisotopes,” aimed at ensuring member countries alternative sources of radioisotopes for medical and industrial purposes. The plan envisions increasing European manufacturing of such materials to reduce dependency on Russian supplies. Expert analysis notes that as part of this plan, the European Commission is already assessing the possibility of legislatively banning the signing of new contracts by EU enterprises for purchasing Russian fossil fuels. This is a natural step, as energy policy is being reoriented toward diminishing Russia’s influence over European energy resources while strengthening the continent’s own energy security. Progress in this area also involves seeking alternative solutions, such as active development of renewable energy, increased energy efficiency, and new infrastructure projects. Only through such measures can Europe operate independently and securely, avoiding energy shocks and providing its citizens with a stable and clean energy balance. For details on how Poland and several other countries have already successfully phased out Russian gas, their experiences and lessons learned, refer to the special article “The Path to Energy Independence: How Poland Discarded Russian Gas,” which explores this topic more deeply and systematically.