The key facts

  • The European Commission proposed moving the first deadline for demonstrating compliance with the methane rules: the requirement will apply from 2028, with the report due by 31 May 2029
  • Environmental organisations oppose the move; industry, several EU countries, Macron and the US support the delay
  • The proposal requires approval by the European Parliament and member states; discussion is scheduled at the Brussels summit on Thursday

European Commission proposal

The European Commission on Wednesday proposed moving the deadline by which importers of oil, gas and coal from third countries must confirm that their supplies comply with the EU's methane emissions rules. Originally, importers were required to prove by January 2027 that their suppliers have monitoring and reporting systems for methane emissions equivalent to the requirements of EU legislation. Under the proposal, the requirement will begin to apply in 2028, and the first report and compliance confirmation — covering supplies of the previous year — must be submitted by 31 May 2029. The headline of Euronews' English-language publication mentions a 'one-year delay', whereas the text refers to moving the deadlines to May 2029.

Pressure and background

The proposal emerged amid pressure from industry and governments concerned about compliance costs and energy security, but it does not fully meet the expectations of several EU countries that had insisted on a three-year delay. The methane rules were adopted by EU countries in May 2024 and provide for mandatory monitoring, reporting and verification of emissions in the energy sector. The current energy crisis, which has driven up prices and threatened supplies of diesel fuel and gas, has heightened concerns that the rules could worsen shortages. French President Emmanuel Macron backed the industry's calls for a delay. 'It is also important to prevent the weakening of Europe's industrial capacity amid preparations for possible long-term supply disruptions,' he wrote in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The United States, the largest LNG supplier to the EU, has also repeatedly criticised the rules because of the burden on American energy companies.

Previously proposed concessions

The European Commission has already proposed significant concessions, including a three-year suspension of certain penalty provisions, but until now had refrained from an official postponement of deadlines. The law obliges importers to disclose data on emissions associated with fuel production, which in practice requires gathering reliable information from producers thousands of kilometres away within complex supply chains. Importers say that even with the suspension of penalties, legal uncertainty remains, and they insist on additional time and clearer obligations.

Environmentalists' criticism

Environmental organisations stated that the methane rules do not threaten Europe's energy security, and that the current disruptions are, in their view, linked to the American-Israeli conflict with Iran, which disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Activists warn that even a limited delay could set a precedent for further concessions, disadvantage companies and countries that have already invested in monitoring systems, and undermine trust in EU rules. Jack Corscadden, senior campaign coordinator at the Environmental Investigation Agency, said there is no proven link between the implementation of the rules and energy supply problems: 'After a summer marked by record heat and widespread wildfires, the Commission is letting down European citizens by delaying the entry into force of this crucial climate law in the interests of extractive companies and fossil fuel exporters.' Esther Bollendorff of Climate Action Network Europe called the delay economically and strategically unjustified: according to her, reducing methane emissions could preserve more than 40 billion cubic metres of gas from key EU suppliers — more than half the volume of American LNG imported by the European Union in 2025.

Next steps

The European Commission's proposal still needs to be approved by the European Parliament and the EU member states. Union leaders are expected to discuss it at the summit in Brussels on Thursday, alongside issues of European economic competitiveness and rising energy prices.