Jun 12, 2025
EU nations are looking into relaxing regulations on methane emissions for gas imports.
EU member states may request Brussels to streamline the methane emissions regulation, raising concerns from companies that it could affect the import of U.S. liquefied natural gas, as reported by Reuters.
Starting this year, the EU mandates that oil and gas importers monitor and report methane emissions linked to these imports. Methane, which leaks from faulty gas infrastructure, is the second-largest contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide.
Draft conclusions from a meeting of EU energy ministers on Monday indicate that governments plan to urge the European Commission to include the methane regulation in its bureaucratic simplification efforts.
The draft suggests the Commission should quickly evaluate which EU energy laws can be simplified to alleviate the administrative burden on Member States, industries, and citizens, particularly regarding the methane regulation, as it may affect collaboration with external economic operators.
These conclusions are still in draft form, being prepared by Poland, which is currently holding the EU presidency, and could be revised before they are finalized on Monday.
The EU’s methane law was established last May but has faced increased scrutiny as the EU seeks to reduce reliance on Russian gas and import more U.S. liquefied natural gas as a substitute.
Both Washington and Brussels have indicated that EU purchases of U.S. LNG could be part of a larger U.S.-EU trade agreement. U.S. President Donald Trump has set a July 9 deadline for the EU to finalize a deal to avoid significant tariffs.
Countries like Romania and Slovakia are cautioning that the methane regulation could hinder gas imports. Some U.S. LNG companies have expressed concerns about compliance due to the fragmented nature of the U.S. industry, which makes it difficult to monitor emissions along the entire value chain down to individual gas wells.
Environmental organizations have dismissed these concerns, stating that systems exist to digitally trace gas throughout the value chain in accordance with EU regulations.
In a letter to U.S. and EU officials this month, obtained by Reuters, the U.S. industry group LNG Allies requested a trade agreement that would ensure U.S. gas exporters are recognized as abiding by "equivalent" methane regulations to those of the EU, thereby automatically complying with the methane law.
Starting this year, the EU mandates that oil and gas importers monitor and report methane emissions linked to these imports. Methane, which leaks from faulty gas infrastructure, is the second-largest contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide.
Draft conclusions from a meeting of EU energy ministers on Monday indicate that governments plan to urge the European Commission to include the methane regulation in its bureaucratic simplification efforts.
The draft suggests the Commission should quickly evaluate which EU energy laws can be simplified to alleviate the administrative burden on Member States, industries, and citizens, particularly regarding the methane regulation, as it may affect collaboration with external economic operators.
These conclusions are still in draft form, being prepared by Poland, which is currently holding the EU presidency, and could be revised before they are finalized on Monday.
The EU’s methane law was established last May but has faced increased scrutiny as the EU seeks to reduce reliance on Russian gas and import more U.S. liquefied natural gas as a substitute.
Both Washington and Brussels have indicated that EU purchases of U.S. LNG could be part of a larger U.S.-EU trade agreement. U.S. President Donald Trump has set a July 9 deadline for the EU to finalize a deal to avoid significant tariffs.
Countries like Romania and Slovakia are cautioning that the methane regulation could hinder gas imports. Some U.S. LNG companies have expressed concerns about compliance due to the fragmented nature of the U.S. industry, which makes it difficult to monitor emissions along the entire value chain down to individual gas wells.
Environmental organizations have dismissed these concerns, stating that systems exist to digitally trace gas throughout the value chain in accordance with EU regulations.
In a letter to U.S. and EU officials this month, obtained by Reuters, the U.S. industry group LNG Allies requested a trade agreement that would ensure U.S. gas exporters are recognized as abiding by "equivalent" methane regulations to those of the EU, thereby automatically complying with the methane law.