Belgium calls on Europe to reduce imports of Russian LNG

Belgian Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten wants the European Union to take action to prevent Russian LNG from being marketed in Europe. The minister believes that the current legal framework does not allow European importers to call into question LNG purchase contracts, most of which are for ten years or more and were signed before Russia invaded Ukraine. Only European sanctions would allow importers to invoke force majeure and repudiate these contracts. Belgium is one of the main importers of Russian LNG, along with France and Spain.