How much of Europe’s oil and gas still comes from Russia?
Key Takeaways
- The European Commission is preparing tariffs on Russian oil imports entering the EU via Hungary and Slovakia.
- US President Donald Trump is pressuring NATO members to cease buying Russian energy to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
- Hungary and Slovakia remain heavily reliant on Russian energy, particularly crude oil and pipeline gas via the Druzhba pipeline, operating under temporary EU exemptions.
- Overall EU reliance on Russian energy has significantly decreased since February 2022, with gas imports dropping from over 45% to 19% and oil from 27% to 3%.
- The shortfall in Russian gas imports has largely been replaced by increased supplies from the US and Norway.
The European Commission announced plans to introduce tariffs on Russian oil imports entering the EU via Hungary and Slovakia, driven by international pressure, including from US President Donald Trump, to stop financing the Russia-Ukraine war through energy purchases. Trump specifically criticized the billions of euros EU countries still spend monthly on Russian fossil fuels. Data shows that in August, the EU spent 1.15 billion euros on Russian fossil fuels, with Hungary and Slovakia being top pipeline oil and gas importers, while France, the Netherlands, and Belgium imported LNG. Europe relies heavily on oil and gas, which together constitute over half of its energy supply, often transported via the extensive Druzhba pipeline, which Hungary and Slovakia use under exemptions due to their lack of alternative routes. Since the invasion, the EU has drastically cut Russian gas imports from over 45% to 19% and oil from 27% to 3%, largely offsetting the shortfall with increased imports from the US and Norway. However, countries like Hungary remain highly dependent, with over 60% of their energy derived from oil and gas.
