European Commission plans delay to EU methane emissions rules

The European Commission says it plans to postpone the European Union's landmark methane emissions law, after pressure from governments including France and the United States to pause or roll back the policy. A Commission spokesperson said the institution plans to propose a postponement of the regulation's entry into force. The move affects a rule that was due to take effect on 1 January 2027.

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EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said Brussels is exploring a one-year postponement of the law's rules for imported fuels, according to an interview published on Friday. The spokesperson did not specify how long the wider postponement might last. That leaves open whether the delay would apply only to imported fuels or to the regulation more broadly.

The methane law is one of the bloc's main climate measures aimed at cutting emissions of a potent greenhouse gas from the energy sector. Methane is closely watched in energy policy because it can be released during the production, transport and use of fossil fuels. Any delay to the rules could affect how the EU applies climate standards to fuel imports, a politically sensitive issue for suppliers and trading partners.

The announcement comes after calls from several governments to soften the policy, underlining the tension between climate regulation and energy trade. France has been among the governments pressing for a pause, while the United States has also urged a rethink. The Commission's willingness to consider a postponement suggests the issue has become part of a wider debate over how quickly the EU should tighten environmental rules without disrupting supply chains.

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The regulation was designed to set a clearer timetable for methane controls, including for imported fuels, and its planned start date had already been fixed for the beginning of 2027. A delay would not remove the law, but it would push back the point at which companies and regulators must begin complying. That could matter for energy firms, importers and governments trying to align climate policy with market realities.

What remains unclear is the exact length and scope of the postponement, and whether the Commission will limit the change to imported-fuels provisions or seek a broader delay. The next step will be the formal proposal from Brussels, which would then need to move through the EU's decision-making process. Until then, the timing and final shape of the methane rules remain unsettled.

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