Methane: European Parliament seeks to delay obligations until 2031
Parliament backs a longer extension; agreement with the Council is pending.
Updated 23.10.2026 · 03:12, Athens time — What changed
On 22 October 2026, the plenary adopted its position by 341 votes to 225, with 6 abstentions: import monitoring-equivalence reports by 31 May 2031 and first methane-intensity reports by 5 August 2031, instead of the Commission proposal's 2029 dates.
MEPs exclude imports from countries under relevant sanctions from the extension. Negotiations with the Council follow; existing deadlines have not changed.
Earlier updates — history
Updated 17 October 2026, 10:10 Athens time — What changed: on 16 October, the European Council welcomed the presentation of the postponement proposal. The leaders’ political position does not itself amend the regulation.
The same conclusions welcome the Commission’s intention to prolong the temporary state-aid framework and improve refinery capacity and efficiency. They do not announce a new individual subsidy or an automatic reduction in bills.
The European Commission proposes a targeted one-year postponement of certain methane-regulation obligations in COM(2026) 569, dated 14 October 2026.
The proposal concerns monitoring, reporting and verification requirements for importers of crude oil, natural gas and coal, and certain methane-intensity obligations for importers and EU producers.
Dates in the proposed text
For importer reports on the equivalence of monitoring, reporting and verification measures, proposed Article 28 sets a first deadline of 31 May 2029, covering supplies in the preceding calendar year.
Proposed Article 29 provides for the first methane-intensity report by 5 August 2029. In the draft, the first demonstration of compliance with maximum intensity values moves to 5 August 2031, for the contracts specified in that provision.
A proposal, not a suspension already in force
Agreement by the European Parliament and Council is required. The draft provides for entry into force on the twentieth day after publication in the Official Journal of the EU. The Commission's adoption of its proposal does not itself change the deadlines currently in force.
The Commission cites energy-supply pressures and a need for additional preparation time. It says the regulation's substantive rules and objectives are maintained. This is its stated rationale, not a guarantee of lower energy prices.
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