The European Union is set to empower its member states with the authority to halt gas imports from Russia and Belarus. The Financial Times reported that a draft legal text from Brussels would allow member states to "partially or, where justified, completely limit" access to infrastructure for gas operators from these countries. This move is part of the EU's ongoing response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and aims to protect the vital security interests of member nations. Negotiators from member countries and the European Parliament are expected to endorse the draft, giving individual EU countries the power to act against Russian and Belarusian gas companies​​.