"Not a single molecule." European Commission not backing down from policy of rejecting Russian resources
The European Commission has stated that it will not soften restrictions on the purchase of Russian energy resources, despite the current energy crisis. European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen, on the sidelines of the summit of European energy ministers in Brussels, emphasized that the European Union is fundamentally refusing oil and gas from Russia to avoid financing the war against Ukraine.
Illustrative photo. Photo: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images
According to Dan Jørgensen, Europe has been too dependent on Russian energy resources for too long, which allowed Moscow to use energy as a tool of pressure. Therefore, the EU intends to continue reducing its dependence and, in the future, not import "a single molecule" of energy resources from Russia.
Some EU countries, including Hungary and Slovakia, continue to receive Russian oil and gas via pipelines as an exception. In addition, European countries still purchase liquefied natural gas, but there are plans to completely abandon the import of Russian gas by 2027.
Against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East, Hungary and Slovakia proposed softening the restrictions, and the Prime Minister of Belgium expressed the opinion that without US support, pressure on Russia is not very effective. However, the EU leadership believes that returning to purchases of Russian oil and gas would be a serious strategic mistake.
Following the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East, oil and gas prices rose significantly: Brent oil climbed by more than 40% and was worth about $102 per barrel, while gas in Europe rose by approximately 60%. Despite this, the European Union states that it does not plan to deviate from its policy of energy independence from Russia.
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