Pressure on the EU to Maintain Standards
Starting January 2027, companies importing oil and gas into the European Union will be required to follow strict monitoring, reporting, and verification rules for methane emissions. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, up to 30 times more damaging than carbon dioxide over a short period, and reducing its release is crucial for tackling climate change.
A group of 24 US lawmakers has urged the EU not to grant exemptions to American energy companies if domestic standards are weak or poorly enforced. In a letter obtained by Euronews, they called the EU regulation a “critical tool” to prevent the wasteful venting and flaring of natural gas and emphasized that consistent rules for all suppliers help reduce trade barriers and reward companies that adopt methane-reducing technologies.
EU Offers Flexibility Without Loopholes
The European Commission has outlined two ways to simplify compliance: companies can either use third-party certificates verifying emissions at production sites, or a digital “trace and claim” system that tracks fuel volumes through every sale and transfer. While these options make implementation easier, the core requirements remain unchanged.
Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told Euronews that the EU has no plans to grant exemptions and is focused on helping industry adjust. “We are designing a pragmatic and simple implementation, taking security of supply into account. Our focus is on ensuring the law works, and industry has engaged positively,” she said.
Uncertainty for US Energy Firms
US energy companies face uncertainty after the Environmental Protection Agency delayed reporting and mitigation requirements in 2025, even though it strengthened methane rules in 2024 to align with EU standards. Experts say enforceable standards like the EU regulation reward companies that have already invested in measuring and managing methane emissions.
Jonathan Banks of the Clean Air Task Force described the lawmakers’ letter as evidence of a growing “transatlantic and global consensus” to curb methane emissions. Methane, produced from fossil fuels and livestock, is a major driver of global warming, contributing to roughly 30% of temperature rise since the industrial revolution, according to the International Energy Agency.
