Today, the European Union sends a clear message to Russia:

Never again.

We will never again allow Russia to use energy as a weapon against us.

We will never again allow our member states to be blackmailed.

We will never again indirectly contribute to the Kremlins war chest.

Since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, the EU has worked hard to stop all imports of Russian energy.

We do this to secure our independence from Russia and to stop indirectly supporting the Russian war economy.

Regarding coal: before 2022, half of the coal used in the EU came from Russia. We have completely stopped this.

For oil, we have reduced our imports from 26% to 3% from Russia.

And for gas, we have reduced our reliance from 45% Russian gas in 2022 to 13% today.

We have come far, but not far enough.

Last year, we in the EU paid €23 billion to Russia for energy imports. Thats €1.8 billion per month. This needs to stop. Hence, the Commission has adopted a roadmap today that will finish the job.

It will be a stepwise and gradual approach to minimize the impact on EU Member States, while acting fast and resolutely.

Next month, we will take unparalleled actions and present a package of legislative proposals:

We will introduce new rules for transparency, monitoring, and traceability of Russian gas.

We ask Member States to develop mandatory national plans to phase out Russian gas, nuclear fuel, and oil. These plans must be ready by the end of this year.

We ban all imports of Russian gas under new contracts and existing spot contracts effective from the end of this year.

We ban remaining imports of Russian pipeline gas and LNG under existing long-term contracts by the end of 2027.

To address illegal oil entering the market via Russias shadow fleet, we tighten the grip.

We will work with the High Representative to deploy EU Common Security and Defense Policy missions, conducting surveillance to monitor maritime activities, identify suspicious vessels or behaviors, and deter illegal maritime activities.

Besides fossil fuels, we also plan actions against the import of nuclear fuels. This means:

We will introduce new restrictions to phase out Russian imports of uranium, enriched uranium, and other nuclear materials, and introduce obligations for transparency and supply diversification.

We will make Russian fuels economically unattractive and strengthen our European nuclear fuel supply chain.

There will be no new approvals for contracts with Russian suppliers co-signed by the Euratom Supply Agency.

To safeguard security of supply, this will be a gradual approach as soon as possible.

Today is an important day. Russia is a threat to all of us. Therefore, we must act. And therefore, we take these new significant steps against Russia. Important actions to secure our own independence in solidarity with Ukraine.

Already by the end of this year, all member states will put forward concrete plans to stop imports of Russian energy. New gas contracts and existing spot market contracts will be banned this year. Thereby eliminating one-third of todays imports from Russia.

By the end of 2027, we will be completely free from Russian gas.

This is not a small thing. This is not without challenges. But it can be done, and we will deliver in a gradual, coordinated way. Supporting member states where and when necessary.