Twelve EU countries led by the Czech Republic call for a delay to methane emissions rules

Twelve EU member states, led by the Czech Republic, are urging the European Commission to postpone key provisions of the new methane emissions regulation by at least three years. The countries argue that the delay is necessary to safeguard Europe's energy security amid ongoing geopolitical instability. The Czech proposal will be discussed today at a meeting of EU energy ministers in Luxembourg. The Czech Republic is represented by Minister of Industry Karel Havlíček.

The regulation on methane emissions in the energy sector is due to take effect on 1 January 2027. Under the rules, importers of fossil fuels will be required to submit detailed, independently verified annual reports to the relevant national authorities on the methane emissions associated with the energy they supply. According to the Czech Republic, however, compliance will be difficult because of a shortage of qualified verifiers and measurement experts in third countries.