The second and third largest EU countries, France and Italy, last year, in silence, bought Russian liquefied natural gas LNG, even though the EU level has been agreed to completely leave Russian energy.
The issue was reported by Ember, which focused on the monitoring of the energy market, which released this week extensive report EU energy acquisitions.
According to information collected by Ember, Russian natural gas imports to the EU grew a total of 18 percent in 2024.
The information of the thought workshop is surprising, as only Hungary, Slovakia and Austria’s gas purchases from Russia have been highlighted in Europe.
“It is a scandal that the EU will continue to bring Russian gas. Instead of investing in real alternatives, such as renewable energy sources and efficiency to reduce Russia’s imports, Member States burn money with expensive LNG capacity that is not even used,” Embere’s analyst Pawel Czyzak Comment.
He recalls that gas production from Russia is growing, although demand for natural gas did not actually increase in 2024.
According to the Embber report, the price of gas is likely to be affected. Natural gas prices rose in the EU in the EU by 59 percent last year and the price of natural gas is still about twice as well as the pre -energy crisis level.
At the same time, security of supply from outside Russia has become increasingly unstable. Increased merchant voltages increase the risk of American LNG, although the United States increases the export capacity of liquefied natural gas.
EMber’s experts emphasize that the EU still does not have a legally binding target or a published plan to stop buying Russian energy, but that it is an intention. Member States may continue to import Russian gas through various loopholes, such as using shadows or by purchasing indirect purchases.
“It would be vital to the EU to maintain a consistent strategic leadership instead of allowing short -term actions that are contrary to its own long -term goals. For example, the flashes of reopening the Nord Stream pipeline line to improve energy prices is to be thrown in fuel,” Czyzak says.
Embber experts are proposing LNG’s price ceiling, banning spot purchases, and absolute abandonment of Russian gas.
Director Isaac Levi states in the lively words what Russian gas purchases are all about.
“Dependence on Russian gas exposes European price fluctuations, give For Vladimir Putin Extension and weakens the support of Ukraine. ”