Two years after the invasion of Ukraine, the debate on the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is once again at the center of the debate, just when information indicates that Spain is the country that imports the most this fuel from Russia. Given the situation, the third vice president, Teresa Ribera, urged yesterday that the purchase of Russian LNG be reduced or eliminated in all the Twenty-seven “as soon as possible”, while Brussels is willing to talk to the countries about how it could be applied, although it rules out immediate legislative measures.
Last year, Spain became the country that imports the most LNG from Russia in the entire European Union, overtaking France, due to the large number of regasification terminals that the country has, which concentrate a third of all the capacity of the EU. This is what the Government has always argued when remembering that when the fuel is regasified it is sent to other European countries or third parties.
Ribera has often lamented the increase in imports and last year he asked energy companies in a letter to stop buying Russian gas, but the only viable formula – this is also what the companies defend – is for a ban to be agreed at the European level, because there are often contractual obligations that prevent taking measures unilaterally. “I will insist on it because we need a common position in Europe, and not for the future, but as soon as possible,” the vice president insisted yesterday, after Lithuania proposed a ban on energy ministers at the meeting of energy ministers in Brussels. imports of Russian gas, starting January 1, 2027. In this sense, he asked Brussels for “urgent” legislative measures so that it can be carried out. However, with the legislature about to end, there is no time to propose measures of this magnitude.
Several member states were in favor of the Lithuanian proposal, although as stressed by the Belgian Minister of Energy, Tinne Van der Straeten, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, “to prohibit the import of liquefied natural gas from of Russia must be done through a package of sanctions and requires unanimity.” However, there is no consensus between the countries, with doubts openly expressed by Germany.
In this sense, the possibility being studied is that within the so-called “gas package”, legislation that must be voted on by the European Parliament in April, a clause will be used with which countries can reduce gas imports. However, a series of technically complex requirements must be met that make its application especially difficult. Even so, given the interest of some countries, the European Commission committed to discussing with the capitals that wish to do so how this voluntary reduction could be applied.
At the same time, the ministers gave their approval to maintain the 15% reduction in gas consumption for next year.
