Group 1 - The European Parliament approved a phased plan to halt imports of Russian natural gas by the end of 2027, with 500 votes in favor, 120 against, and 32 abstentions [2] - The plan aims to stop imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the end of 2026 and pipeline gas by September 2027, reflecting the EU's commitment to reduce energy dependence since the Ukraine war [2] - As of October this year, Russian natural gas accounted for 12% of the EU's total imports, a significant decrease from 45% before the Ukraine conflict, although some countries like Hungary, France, and Belgium still import Russian gas [2] Group 2 - The EU Council decided to indefinitely freeze Russian assets within the EU, facilitating the use of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine [3] - The Russian Central Bank has filed a lawsuit in Moscow arbitration court seeking compensation of over 18 trillion rubles (approximately 1.6 trillion yuan) from the European Clearing Bank, which holds a large amount of frozen Russian assets [3]

Group 1 - The European Commission plans to propose a law to ban imports of Russian natural gas and LNG by the end of 2027, circumventing opposition from member states like Hungary and Slovakia [1] - The proposal aims to solidify the EU's commitment to ending its long-standing energy relationship with Russia, which has been a major supplier for decades [1] - The law will prohibit imports of Russian pipeline gas and LNG starting January 1, 2026, with some contracts allowed to extend their terms [1] Group 2 - Existing long-term contracts for Russian natural gas will be banned from January 1, 2028, effectively ending the use of Russian gas in the EU by that date [1] - Companies like TotalEnergies and Naturgy hold Russian LNG contracts that extend into the 2030s, and EU LNG terminals will gradually stop servicing Russian clients [3] - The proposal may be adjusted before its release, and companies can invoke "force majeure" clauses to terminate Russian gas contracts without legal disputes [3] Group 3 - Slovakia and Hungary maintain close political ties with Russia and oppose the energy sanctions, claiming that transitioning to alternative energy sources will raise electricity prices [4] - Austria has indicated that the EU should be open to resuming Russian gas imports if a peace agreement is reached regarding the Ukraine conflict [4] - The proposal will be based on a legal framework that requires a reinforced majority of member states and support from the European Parliament to bypass vetoes from certain countries [4] Group 4 - Approximately 19% of Europe's natural gas still comes from Russia, a significant decrease from 45% before 2022, with countries like Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Spain still importing Russian LNG [5] - The French Minister of Industry expressed support for the plan, emphasizing the need for solutions that ensure maximum security for businesses [5]