IEA Executive Director joins European Commission leaders to commend EU agreement to phase out Russian gas imports

In a joint press conference today with European Commission President Ursula von Leyen and Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol emphasised the significance of the European Union’s new agreement to phase out natural gas imports from Russia in 2027, calling it a historic moment that signals the end of an era that began more than 50 years ago when the first gas imports took place.

Dr Birol noted that Europe is now on much firmer footing, having drawn a line under its decades-long dependence on Russian gas by diversifying towards other gas suppliers and energy sources.

“In the energy world, overreliance can quickly turn into major geopolitical vulnerabilities,” Dr Birol said at the European Commission in Brussels. “My number one golden rule for energy security is diversification.”

In their remarks, President von der Leyen and Commissioner Jørgensen both thanked Dr Birol for the IEA’s years of policy advice in support of Europe’s energy priorities.

The IEA works with governments around the world to support energy security. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the IEA responded swiftly to the crisis with a 10-Point Plan to reduce the European Union’s reliance on Russian gas, which was published one week after the invasion.

Watch the press conference back here.