EU energy ministers aim to reach an agreement on phasing out gas imports from Russia — Council meeting to be held on 20 October in Luxembourg
EU energy ministers will meet in Luxembourg on 20 October 2025. In the meeting, the aim is to approve the Council's general approach on the RePowerEU regulation to gradually phase out natural gas imports from Russia. The other main item on the agenda is to discuss the role of electrification as a driver of the EU’s competitive and clean transition. Finland will be represented at the meeting by the Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala.
“The clean transition and energy security are closely interconnected. Emission reduction solutions of the clean transition enhance both energy security and our competitiveness. The transition requires a broad approach that seeks innovations and new solutions supporting the renewal of the energy sector”, says minister Sari Multala.
REPowerEU regulation to introduce new rules on gas and oil imports from Russia to EU Member States
EU energy ministers are expected to reach an agreement on a proposal to gradually phase out remaining gas imports from Russia. A full prohibition would be in place by 1 January 2028. The regulation would apply to both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG). It is a key deliverable of the roadmap towards ending Russian energy imports, which was issued by the European Commission in May 2025.
The proposal also aims to improve the monitoring and traceability of Russian gas, while supporting Member States in managing the transition and ensuring energy security in the EU.
The EU Member States that still import Russian oil would be obligated to draw up a plan for phasing out the imports. Currently, Russian oil is practically only imported by Hungary and Slovakia. Non-pipeline imports were already prohibited previously.
Finland considers the proposed regulation to be justified and supports the EU-level provision of rules for the EU's internal market for natural gas concerning the import of Russian gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Electrification as a driver of the EU’s competitive and clean transition
Ministers will also discuss the role of electrification in the EU’s competitive and clean transition, with a view to the future electrification strategy that the European Commission will present in early 2026.
The discussion will focus on the opportunities and challenges posed by electrification, including its potential to accelerate decarbonisation across key sectors such as transport, industry and energy. Ministers will also consider how to ensure the availability of the necessary infrastructure and technologies to support this transition.
Finland’s position is based on a technology-neutral approach in which the clean transition is implemented cost-effectively and on market terms, creating a clear competitive advantage for the EU. Finland is a good example of how general regulatory frameworks alone can promote electrification in its traditional sense, such as in industrial heat production, district heating and transport.
However, some new technologies require the simultaneous examination of multiple sectors. For example, the production of e-fuels holds tremendous potential to promote electrification, but there is still a lack of an EU-wide general framework for determining the emission reduction value of biogenic carbon capture. For this reason, it is not yet possible to establish a comprehensive understanding of the value chains of e-fuels.
Energy security and resilience in Ukraine and Moldova
As the third item on the meeting's agenda, ministers will also discuss energy security and resilience in Ukraine and Moldova ahead of the upcoming winter season. They will also exchange views on the strategic importance of their integration of the two countries into the EU energy market in the long run.
Inquiries:
Elina Johansson, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 50 301 4607
Lyydia Ylönen, Special Adviser to the Minister of Climate and the Environment, tel +358 50 476 1341
Sanna Ek-Husson, Senior Specialist, Permanent Representation of Finland, Brussels, tel. +32 470 206 178