GERMANY’S bosses and unions united today in opposing an immediate European Union ban on natural gas imports from Russia that would lead to factory shutdowns and the loss of jobs.

In a joint statement, DGB trade union confederation chairman Reiner Hoffmann and BDA employers’ group chairman Rainer Dulger said: “A rapid gas embargo would lead to loss of production, shutdowns, a further deindustrialisation and the long-term loss of work positions in Germany.”

They said that EU sanctions need to be targeted to put pressure on Russia over Moscow’s war on Ukraine while minimising damages to the countries imposing the sanctions, saying: “In the current discussion, we don’t see that.”

The statement comes as European leaders are discussing potential new energy sanctions against Russian oil following a decision on April 7 to ban Russian coal imports beginning in August.

EU nations get about 40 per cent of their natural gas from Russia and about 25 per cent of their oil.

Germany, whose manufacturing is a major consumer of Russian gas, has so far resisted an immediate shut-off and said it plans instead to phase out Russian oil by the end of the year and most Russian gas imports by mid-2024.

German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck said that “an immediate gas embargo would endanger social peace in Germany.”

The EU’s executive commission has outlined steps to cut the consumption of Russian gas by two thirds by the end of the year.

Despite widespread economic sanctions against Russian banks and individuals, the EU continues to hand over about $850 million (£650m) per day to Russia for oil and gas even as EU governments condemn the war in Ukraine.