Ambassadors of the European Union countries supported the plan proposed by the European Commission to phase out Russian gas by the beginning of 2028, reported Reuters, citing diplomats.
The agency's interlocutors stated that almost all EU countries expressed support for the proposed plan, so they expect it to be easily approved, despite criticism from Hungary and Slovakia, whose governments want to maintain close ties with Russia.
Reuters notes that negotiations are currently ongoing about "technical changes ahead of the vote, which is to take place on October 20." To approve the plan, a "qualified majority" of EU countries is required — at least 55% of the states.
One of the unresolved issues remains the control over the implementation of the plan: whether prior permission will be required for the supply of gas and oil to the EU, and whether the bloc's customs authorities will check energy resources after the cargo arrives at the port to ensure that the gas and oil are not Russian.