EU Parliament Backs Three-Year Delay to Methane Emissions Rules for Energy Importers

The European Parliament has voted to support a three-year postponement of certain methane monitoring, reporting and verification requirements for companies importing oil, natural gas and coal into the European Union. Adopted on 22 October 2026 by 341 votes in favor, 225 against, and six abstentions, the position calls for a longer extension than the one-year delay proposed by the European Commission. The move follows concerns from energy importers about securing compliant fuel supplies amid market disruption and elevated energy prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

 

Under Parliament's proposal, fossil fuel importers would have until 31 May 2031 to demonstrate that supply contracts concluded or renewed since 4 August 2024 are covered by methane monitoring, reporting and verification measures equivalent to EU standards. The same deadline would apply to reporting efforts to align older contracts with the requirements. EU producers and importers would also have until 5 August 2031 to submit their first methane intensity reports, compared with the previously scheduled deadline of 5 August 2029. For EU oil and gas operators, Parliament proposes extending deadlines for verified reports combining source-level and site-level methane measurements to February 2030 for operated assets and August 2031 for non-operated assets.

 

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The proposed extension would not apply to fossil fuel imports originating in or exported through countries subject to EU sanctions restricting these energy products. Parliament wants the existing compliance timetable maintained for such supplies, with importers required to report affected volumes separately, including those contained in mixed cargoes. MEPs have also requested that the European Commission publish an implementation review by 1 July 2029, examining national penalties, verification systems, methane intensity methodologies and the potential consequences for energy security.

 

The proposed amendments concern Regulation (EU) 2024/1787, which entered into force on 4 August 2024 and established requirements for measuring and verifying methane emissions, detecting and repairing leaks, and limiting routine venting and flaring in the energy sector. The regulation also extends methane-related obligations to fossil fuels imported into the EU, seeking to address emissions occurring beyond the bloc's borders. The postponement proposal reflects the challenge of balancing methane reduction objectives with the practical requirements of international energy trade and supply security.

 

Parliament will now negotiate with the Council of the European Union to determine the final amendments. MEPs want the revised legislation to enter into force immediately after its publication in the EU's Official Journal, providing greater clarity for importers and producers. However, the new deadlines are not yet legally binding, and existing requirements remain applicable until the EU formally adopts an amending regulation. The outcome of the negotiations will determine how quickly the EU implements its methane reporting requirements while managing concerns over energy supply.

 

Source: EU