Energy crisis from Iran war pushes Europe back toward Russian gas
Photo: LNG tanker for transporting liquefied natural gas (Getty Images)
The war in the Middle East has become a serious test for Europeєs energy system. Despite the success of green energy, the EU is still spending billions on gas imports, according to Euronews.
According to analysts, solar energy alone as of early June helped Europe save 12.8 billion euros. At the same time, the European Union continues to spend significant funds on fossil fuel imports, and dependence on certain gas suppliers remains substantial.
Gas imports are not falling everywhere
According to an analysis by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), LNG imports into the EU have decreased by 1.2% since March, while in the United Kingdom they fell by 20%.
IEEFA energy analyst Ana Maria Jaller-Makarewicz notes that the EU is increasingly recognizing the limitations of the model that relied on expanding LNG imports after the 2022 energy crisis.
At the same time, the situation varies significantly across countries. While some states are reducing purchases, others are increasing them.
The largest increase in LNG imports was recorded in Germany — up 72% compared to the same period last year. Italy and Belgium have also increased their purchases.
Dependence on the US and Russia remains high
Analysts note that after reduced supplies from Qatar due to the situation around the Strait of Hormuz, the EU increased gas imports from other countries.
From March to May, LNG imports from the United States rose by 5%, from Algeria by 11%, from Russia by 25%, and from Norway by 84%.
At the same time, the United States accounted for about 60% of all LNG imports to the European Union during this period.
Recall that IEEFA analysts previously reported that imports of Russian LNG to the EU continue to grow despite Brussels' plans to phase out Russian energy resources by 2027.
In the first quarter of 2026, EU countries purchased 6.9 billion cubic meters of Russian LNG — a record high since the start of the full-scale war.
The largest buyers of Russian LNG were France, Spain, and Belgium. Russia remains the second-largest supplier of liquefied gas to the European Union, second only to the United States.
