In 2023, the EU decided to tackle methane emissions through a reporting regime. However, in the years since, EU lawmakers have had a hard time making that vision a reality. To make matters worse, the energy crisis in the Middle East put additional pressure on lawmakers to ease up on methane restrictions. The EU Commission proposed a one-year postponement for methane reporting. Parliament went further and sought a three-year delay. Now it appears the Commission won out, with the Council siding with its approach. The EU Council notes in a press release announcing its support that:
“Member states agreed to maintain the substance of the Commission’s proposal presented on 14 October 2026, postponing the application of the following provisions by one year:
- monitoring, reporting and verification obligations for natural gas, crude oil and coal importers, to apply from 1 January 2028 (instead of 1 January 2027)
- methane-intensity reporting for both importers and Union producers, to apply from 5 August 2029 (instead of 5 August 2028)
- maximum methane-intensity levels for both importers and Union producers, to apply from 5 August 2031 (instead of 5 August 2030)”
The one-year postponement for methane reporting isn’t final yet, but it appears the most likely outcome. EU Parliament must still agree to the delay. However, absent intervention, the new rules are set to apply on January 1, 2027. This means that Parliament is unlikely to play hardball on its three-year timeline. Especially with the EU’s other two governmental bodies in alignment. The press release identifies the possibility of future postponements through secondary laws, so the delay may ultimately extend beyond the one-year period.
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