The member states of the European Union have decided this Friday to postpone for one year the implementation of several methane emission control obligations linked to imports of natural gas, oil and coal, with the intention of "avoiding additional pressures" on the security of the Community’s energy supply in a context of tensions in the markets due to the conflict in the Middle East.
With this step, the Council of the EU sets its position on the proposal put forward by the European Commission on 14 October, backing without modifications the delay raised by Brussels for certain monitoring, reporting and verification obligations for emissions included in the European methane regulations, approved in May 2024 and in force since August of that same year.
In practice, the Twenty-Seven propose that importers of gas, crude oil and coal begin applying these controls from 1 January 2028, instead of doing so in January 2027, as currently set out by Community legislation.
In addition, the commitment reached provides for postponing until 5 August 2029 the obligation to communicate the intensity of methane emissions linked to these fuels, for both importers and European producers, while the authorized maximum limits would begin to apply on 5 August 2031, one year later than initially planned.
Beyond this postponement, the position agreed by the Twenty-Seven determines that the Commission will have to analyze before 30 September 2027 whether the necessary conditions are met to roll out the new obligations, including the existence of a sufficient number of independent verifiers capable of checking the emission reports and the availability of European rules that facilitate the exchange of information between producers and importers.
If any of these requirements are not met, the Community executive will be empowered to delay again, through implementing rules, the application of controls on imports. It will also have the possibility of presenting additional changes in legislation if obstacles to its implementation persist or if risks to energy supply security are identified.
The amendment must now be subject to negotiation with the European Parliament, with a view to closing an agreement before the year is out, since the first obligations affected by the delay should begin to apply on 1 January next year.