EU Delays Methane Rules: Green Deal Weakened?

The European Commission has proposed delaying new methane-monitoring requirements for fossil fuel imports by over two years, setting a new deadline of May 2029 instead of January 2027. This proposal follows pressure from industry and some governments concerned about compliance costs and energy security. Environmental groups have strongly condemned this move, arguing that the methane rules do not threaten Europe's energy security and that the current supply crisis is due to geopolitical conflicts affecting shipping routes.

Environmentalists contend that the delay does little to address energy prices and accuse Brussels of weakening the Green Deal to appease fossil fuel producers. They highlight that methane mitigation could unlock significant gas volumes from EU suppliers. The EU adopted its methane law in May 2024 to regulate potent greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector. This latest proposal requires further approval from the European Parliament and EU governments and will be discussed by EU leaders soon.