Source: European Parliament
Russian gas imports did not rise over the period 2022-24. On an annual basis the EU has significantly reduced its imports of Russian gas from ca. 150 billion cubic meters (bcm) before 2021 and the beginning of the gas crisis, to 45 bcm in 2023[1].
T he EU Energy Platform including its AggregateEU mechanism contributed to the security and diversification of gas supplies to the EU and Energy Community, and increased market transparency[2].
The expiry of the Russian gas transit agreement through Ukraine at the end of 2024 would contribute further to phasing out Russian fossil fuel dependence by halting imports via Ukraine.
Demand reduction measures contributed to reducing the gas demand by 18% between August 2022 and May 2024. Unprecedented development of renewables has been achieved. Wind and solar capacity have increased by 36% between 2021 and 2023, saving the equivalent of 24 bcm gas over 2 years .
The Commission continues to implement the REPowerEU plan[3], including through limited financing to gas projects by the Connecting Europe Facility and the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
New projects will help diversify supplies, such as the Adriatica Line, Gdansk LNG terminal and Gdańsk-Gustorzyn pipeline, the expansion of Krk LNG Terminal, Romanian Black Sea Gas exploitation or Trans-Balkan pipeline reverse flow, which the Commission has facilitated through the work of the CESEC High-Level Group.
- [1] To compensate, the EU replaced Russian gas supply with imports from other international suppliers. Norway and the United States became the EU’s largest gas suppliers, representing 34% (47 bcm) and 18% (25 bcm), respectively of EU gas imports in the first five months of 2024, followed by North Africa, Azerbaijan and Qatar.
- [2] https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-security/eu-energy-platform_en
- [3] https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/repowereu-affordable-secure-and-sustainable-energy-europe_en