European Union countries are seeking to ensure that no loopholes remain for Russian gas to be mixed into the bloc’s supplies once a full ban takes effect by the end of 2027, Bloomberg has reported.
According to a document seen by Bloomberg, Denmark, which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, has proposed changes that would require importers to give national authorities evidence that their gas supplies had not originated in Russia.
The document outlines particular concerns regarding gas flows through TurkStream, a key natural gas pipeline which carries Russian gas to Europe through Turkey.
Earlier this year, Russia accused Ukraine of launching a drone attack on TurkStream infrastructure amid an escalating energy row over Russian gas traveling via the route.
“Natural gas entering the Union through borders or interconnection points between the Union and Russia or Belarus and through the interconnection point Strandzha 2 / Malkoclar (TurkStream) shall be presumed to be exported, directly or indirectly, from the Russian Federation,” the Danish proposal is said to state.
This would not apply in cases where “unambiguous evidence” could prove that the gas had no connection to Russia.
The move would also rule out future swap deals that substitute non-Russian shipments for supply from Moscow.
The proposal reflects fears that Russian gas may continue to be blended with other gas before entering the EU market even after a formal ban is implemented by the end of 2027.
Once gas enters the pipeline network it can become increasingly difficult to trace its origin, particularly as supplies are routinely blended from multiple sources before reaching the final consumer.
This lack of transparency has put a spanner in the works of enforcement efforts and raised questions about the efficacy of the proposed restrictions by Europe.
In May 2025, the EU announced plans to end all Russian gas imports by 2027 with a two-step plan.
Under the proposed ban, Russian gas supplies under existing contracts shorter than one year will be stopped from June 17, 2026 at the latest, with the exception of landlocked countries like Hungary and Slovakia.
Slovakia and Hungary, which have opposed the EU plans and continue to import Russian gas via pipeline, would have until the first day of 2028 to end their imports.
Both countries remain heavily reliant on Russian gas and oil and have recently been embroiled in spats with Kyiv over Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
A ban on shipments under existing longer-term deals would take effect before the end of 2027.
“We don’t want to be under the control of Putin,” EU energy chief Dan Jorgensen told AFP previously. “We know that he will weaponize energy if he feels that it’s in his interest.”
Denmark will attempt to reach a deal on the Russian gas ban among member states by October, before negotiating with the European Parliament to strike a final deal before the end of the year.