EU scrutinises Bulgaria’s gas network over risks of illegal Russian imports after 2027

EU institutions need to place Bulgaria and its gas transmission system under special monitoring due to the risk that Russian pipeline gas could continue to enter the EU after the full ban comes into force in 2027, according to a legislative resolution adopted by the European Parliament on Wednesday.

MEPs approved the gradual introduction of a ban on imports of Russian natural gas, both via pipelines and in liquefied form, with the process set to begin in 2026 and conclude in 2027.

EU to end all Russian gas and oil imports by 2027, signals robust energy sanctions

Bulgaria has two access points to the Turkish gas transmission network and is currently the only transit hub for Russian gas entering the EU via the extension of the TurkStream pipeline, which continues towards Serbia and Hungary.

“Today’s vote sends a clear and strong message: Europe will never again depend on Russian gas. This is a major achievement for the European Union and a historic turning point in European energy policy,” said Inese Vaidere (EPP, Latvia), a leading MEP from the Parliament’s international trade committee.

The legislation, which has already been agreed with the Council, was adopted by 500 votes in favour, 120 against and 32 abstentions. It must now receive formal approval from the Council of the EU before being published in the Official Journal.

Bulgaria is a possible back door

Under the EU regulation on the import ban, this route will be subject to enhanced scrutiny and strict origin reporting requirements to prevent Russian volumes from entering the EU through the back door.

At present, part of Russia’s gas transmission infrastructure remains directly connected to that of the EU, with the two active connection points located on the Bulgarian–Turkish border.

The local customs will be required to automatically refuse the import of natural gas volumes claimed to be in transit through Russia, unless unequivocal evidence can be provided demonstrating that this is indeed the case.

Such evidence must be submitted to the competent authorising authorities no later than one month prior to entry into the EU customs territory, allowing sufficient time to trace the imported gas back to its production site.

Particular concern surrounds the “Strandzha 1” interconnection point, which links Bulgaria’s gas system with that of Turkey. While it carries gas from Azerbaijan and Turkey, it is also used to transport significant volumes of Russian gas, says the resolution.

“For this reason, unequivocal evidence establishing a country of production other than the Russian Federation must be required, and the authorities must be given sufficient time for verification, in order to ensure that gas imported via Strandzha 1 does not originate from the Russian Federation or is not exported directly or indirectly from it,” the European Parliament resolution states.

Bulgaria and Greece, both of which are connected to the Turkish gas transmission network, are required to have systems in place to effectively monitor gas flows in transit.

Close monitoring

The European Parliament explicitly stresses that national authorities, the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), and the European Commission must cooperate closely to ensure the proper implementation of the regulation.

Bulgaria will be required to exchange information and share documentation with EU institutions in cases where the import of Russian natural gas is permitted after the regulation enters into force.

Customs authorities must provide monthly updates to regulatory bodies and the Commission on key elements related to changes in Russian gas imports. The successful implementation of the EU’s upcoming Russian gas ban will depend on Sofia’s ability to enforce it. There are serious questions as to whether a hypothetical pro-Russian government in Sofia would be able to implement such a critical piece of legislation for Bulgaria and the wider region.

The regulation provides for severe financial penalties for companies that breach the rules. The maximum fine for legal entities will be at least 3.5% of a company’s total global annual turnover in the previous financial year, or €40 million, or 300% of the estimated turnover from the transactions concerned, calculated on the basis of the relevant gas volumes and day-ahead contract prices at the Dutch TTF gas hub.

For persons, the maximum sanction may not be lower than €2.5 million, according to the adopted regulation, which is pending publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Deadlines

Imports of Russian liquefied natural gas will be halted by 31 December 2026, while pipeline gas imports will be banned by 30 September 2027. By way of derogation, member states may extend this deadline until 31 October 2027 if their gas storage levels fall below the required filling thresholds.

During negotiations with the Danish Council Presidency, MEPs also pushed for a ban on all imports of Russian oil. They secured a commitment from the European Commission to present the relevant legislation in early 2026, allowing an effective ban to enter into force as soon as possible and no later than the end of 2027.

MEPs further insisted that the conditions under which the ban could be temporarily suspended in emergency situations should be made more stringent.

Caption: Strandzha gas metering station on Bulgarian territory near the Turkish border, GVEI group photo