The EU and the Russian Federation signed the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), creating the core post-Soviet legal framework for political dialogue and economic cooperation (including trade and investment).
After ratification, the PCA entered into force, providing the treaty basis for regular EU–Russia relations until many dialogues were suspended following the 2014 Crimea/Ukraine crisis.
At an EU–Russia summit, the parties agreed to establish an “energy dialogue” on a regular basis, aiming to define an EU–Russia energy partnership and address issues such as investment, infrastructure and energy efficiency.
At the St Petersburg EU–Russia summit, leaders agreed to deepen cooperation through four “Common Spaces” (economy; freedom, security and justice; external security; and research/education/culture), signaling an attempt to structure a broader partnership beyond trade.
At an EU–Russia summit in Moscow, the sides adopted detailed “road maps” intended to implement cooperation across the four Common Spaces framework agreed in 2003.
A pricing and transit dispute between Russia and Ukraine led to supply interruptions that affected multiple EU member states, intensifying EU concerns about dependence on Russian gas transiting Ukraine.
The 2009 Russia–Ukraine gas dispute escalated into a complete halt of Russian gas deliveries through Ukraine for a period, prompting EU emergency coordination and reinforcing energy-security diversification efforts.
The Third Energy Package entered into force, strengthening internal market rules (including unbundling and third-party access). These rules later became central in EU disputes over Russian-backed pipeline projects and market practices.
Nord Stream 1’s first line was inaugurated, creating a major direct pipeline route for Russian gas to Germany via the Baltic Sea and bypassing traditional transit states.
Following Russia’s actions in Ukraine and Crimea, EU leaders confirmed the suspension of bilateral talks with Russia on visa matters and on a new EU–Russia agreement, warning that failure to de-escalate would bring further consequences.
The EU adopted targeted restrictive measures (asset freezes and travel restrictions) against persons responsible for actions undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity, marking the start of the EU’s post-2014 Russia sanctions architecture.
The EU introduced broad sectoral restrictive measures targeting parts of the Russian economy (including finance, defense and energy-related technologies), significantly escalating sanctions beyond individual listings.
Amid EU legal and regulatory objections (notably competition/internal market requirements), Russia’s president announced that the South Stream pipeline project would be abandoned, reshaping regional pipeline politics.
The Commission sent a Statement of Objections alleging Gazprom abused its dominant position in Central and Eastern European gas markets, including through territorial restrictions and unfair pricing practices.
EU foreign ministers agreed five guiding principles for Russia policy, including making any substantial change in EU stance conditional on implementation of the Minsk agreements and emphasizing EU resilience (including energy security).
The European Commission adopted a commitments decision making Gazprom’s proposed remedies binding, aiming to improve cross-border gas flows and pricing practices in Central and Eastern Europe without imposing a fine.
Germany moved to halt the certification process required for Nord Stream 2 to begin operating, following Russia’s recognition of separatist-held areas in eastern Ukraine, foreshadowing wider EU sanctions after the full-scale invasion.
EU leaders adopted the Versailles Declaration, agreeing to phase out EU dependency on Russian gas, oil and coal imports and to accelerate steps to reduce strategic dependencies.
The Commission released the REPowerEU plan to accelerate the reduction of EU reliance on Russian fossil fuels through energy savings, diversification, and faster rollout of renewables and infrastructure.
The EU adopted a sixth package of sanctions, setting out an import ban on Russian seaborne crude oil and petroleum products, marking a major escalation into direct restrictions on Russian energy exports to the EU.
An EU prohibition on importing coal and other solid fossil fuels from Russia took effect, becoming the first EU sanctions measure to fully cut a major category of Russian fossil-fuel imports.
Multiple underwater explosions caused major gas leaks on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 near Bornholm, rendering key pipeline routes inoperable and deepening the EU’s reorientation away from Russian gas.
EU restrictive measures prohibiting the import and transfer of Russian seaborne crude oil began to apply, sharply reducing a key revenue stream and accelerating EU supply diversification.
EU restrictions extended to refined petroleum products, further curtailing Russian energy exports to the EU and amplifying the sanctions’ impact on the energy trade relationship.
EU–Russia relations: energy ties, sanctions and crises (1991–2023)
