This is reported by Kyiv24
Governments of European Union countries are keen to keep the details of their national plans for a gradual phase-out of Russian oil and gas by the end of 2027 secret. This information is contained in an internal EU document that details the progress of negotiations among the countries.
Legislative Initiatives and Confidentiality Requirements
In June, the European Commission submitted a legislative proposal that outlines a gradual cessation of oil and gas imports from the Russian Federation. According to this document, each member state must develop its own national plan with specific steps and timelines to achieve this goal.
Currently, EU countries are discussing this proposal, emphasizing the need to keep such plans under “professional secrecy.” A draft negotiating document prepared by Denmark states:
“These plans should be subject to professional secrecy rules and should not be disclosed without the consent of the relevant member state.”
According to diplomats, EU governments are likely trying to avoid the dissemination of information that could affect gas market prices or reveal details regarding alternative energy supply sources.
Positions of Individual Countries and State of Negotiations
While each member state is required to submit its plans to Brussels, the “professional secrecy” mechanism means that these documents will not be accessible to other states or authorities without appropriate consent.
The European Commission has refrained from commenting on this situation, as have representatives of the presidency from Denmark. It is expected that EU diplomats will return to discussions on the document next week. Negotiations are currently in the early stages and do not address the complex legal aspects related to the termination of contracts for Russian gas.
Slovakia and Hungary remain among the countries that still import Russian gas via pipelines. They have opposed a ban on gas supplies from the Russian Federation, and the European Commission has developed a mechanism to ensure it can be adopted even without their support. At the same time, Slovakia has stated its readiness to block a new package of sanctions against Russia if its energy interests are not taken into account.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico emphasized this week that his country’s concerns about high gas prices and the need for compensation for the cessation of Russian gas imports have yet to be addressed. Last week, representatives of the European Commission arrived in Bratislava for negotiations with the Slovak authorities.
At present, EU countries import 35 billion cubic meters of Russian gas annually. Of this amount, 20 billion is liquefied natural gas, primarily arriving at ports in France, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The remaining 15 billion cubic meters is transported via pipelines through the “Turkish Stream” to Central and Southern Europe, including Hungary, Slovakia, and Greece.