European Parliament backs three-year delay to EU methane import rules

What happened

The European Parliament has adopted a negotiating position calling for a three-year deferral of methane monitoring and reporting requirements for importers of oil, natural gas and coal. Members backed the position by 341 votes to 225.

Under the position, obligations that had been due to start in 2028 would instead apply from 2031. The European Commission had earlier proposed a one-year postponement, arguing that additional requirements could put pressure on the security of imported fossil-fuel supplies amid the geopolitical situation.

Parliament said it accepts the case for a delay but wants a longer extension because importers have cautioned that compliant supplies may be difficult to secure while energy markets remain under strain.

MEPs also seek to extend deadlines for EU oil and gas operators to provide verified reports that combine measurements at source and site level. For operated assets, the deadline would shift from 2027 to February 2030. For non-operated assets, it would move to August 2031.

Why it matters

The proposed change concerns businesses importing covered fossil fuels into the EU. If reflected in the final rules, it would give importers three additional years before the monitoring, reporting and verification requirements take effect.

For EU oil and gas operators, the revised reporting timetable would defer the need to submit verified measurement data. Companies involved in EU energy supply chains should track the negotiations, as the Parliament’s vote is a position rather than the final legal outcome.

Background

The EU’s 2024 methane law introduced requirements covering emissions measurement, reporting and verification, leak detection and repair, and limits on venting and flaring. It also covers methane linked to imported oil, gas and coal.

Methane has substantially greater warming power than carbon dioxide, and oil and gas facilities are among the major industrial sources of the gas. The legislation is intended to support EU climate objectives and improve air quality.

What's next

Parliament’s approved position sets its approach to the Commission proposal. The Commission’s original proposal would have delayed importer requirements by one year; Parliament is seeking a 2031 start instead of 2028. The proposed operator deadlines are February 2030 for operated assets and August 2031 for non-operated assets.