EU member states have agreed to delay by a year several planned monitoring rules for methane emissions linked to imports of crude oil, natural gas and coal.

The Council of the EU backed the European Commission’s proposal for targeted changes to the EU methane regulation, citing disruption to energy markets linked to the conflict in the Middle East and concerns about the bloc’s security of energy supply, the Council informed in a statement on Friday.

It welcomed the proposal in conclusions agreed on 15 and 16 October 2026, describing it as a targeted measure responding to the current geopolitical context, supply chains, energy security and energy and fuel prices.

“There are significant pressures on global energy markets, which are driving up energy prices across the EU,” Ireland’s Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien said.

What would be delayed

Under the Council position, monitoring, reporting and verification obligations for importers of natural gas, crude oil and coal would apply from 1 January 2028 instead of 1 January 2027.

Rules requiring “methane-intensity” reporting — a measure of methane emissions per unit of energy produced — would start on 5 August 2029 rather than 5 August 2028 for both importers and EU producers.

Maximum methane-intensity levels for both importers and EU producers would apply from 5 August 2031 instead of 5 August 2030.

The Commission would assess by 30 September 2027 whether key conditions for implementing the reporting obligations are in place, including a sufficient number of third-party verifiers and EU rules for transferring methane emissions information between producers and importers.

If any of the necessary elements are missing, the Commission would postpone the import-related monitoring obligations through secondary legislation, member states agreed.

The Council said it would seek an early agreement with the European Parliament so the postponement can take effect by the end of the year, before the import-related monitoring rules are due to begin on 1 January 2027 under current law.

The EU methane regulation was adopted in May 2024 and entered into force in August 2024, introducing requirements to measure, report and verify methane emissions in the energy sector.

Methane emissions are responsible for about 30% of global climate warming.