The European Union is preparing to give member states the power to suspend gas imports from Russia and Belarus, sources familiar with the matter told the Financial Times.
According to the sources, any European Union country will be able to prevent companies from Russia and Belarus from obtaining space in gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas stations, and these measures come within a draft legal text proposed by Brussels on Friday.
Under the text of the proposed law, EU member states would have the power to partially or completely limit - if justified - access to infrastructure for gas operators from Russia and Belarus in order to protect their security interests.
This proposal could provide a basis for EU energy companies to exit their contracts with Russian gas providers without having to pay huge compensation.
Although European Union members gradually reduced their dependence on Russian energy sources after the start of its war with Ukraine about two years ago, the bloc's countries still receive a tenth of their gas supplies, including liquefied natural gas shipments, from Moscow.
In the third quarter of this year, Russia shipped about 12% of the European Union's total gas imports.
The final version of the text of the law needs to be approved by Parliament and members of the Union, and it is expected to enter into force in May next year.
The European Union had previously implemented a cooperative initiative to purchase gas in order to replenish reserves before winter and to avoid a repeat of the rise in prices to a record level, as happened last year.
