European Parliament votes to delay methane rules by three years, siding with industry

MEPs reject Commission's one-year proposal, backing longer postponement until 2031

By LineZotpaper

Published22 October 2026

Updated22 October 2026

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The European Parliament has voted to postpone the EU's methane regulation by three years until 2031, rejecting the European Commission's proposed one-year delay. The move, backed by the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), aims to ease pressure on energy companies amid high prices and supply disruptions, but has drawn fierce criticism from environmental groups.

European Parliament lawmakers on Thursday voted to delay the EU's methane rules by three years, until 2031, overriding a European Commission proposal for a one-year postponement. The decision highlights growing divisions over how far the EU should soften environmental regulations as governments struggle with high energy prices, supply disruptions and concerns about industrial competitiveness.

The EU's methane regulation requires companies importing fossil fuels to show that their suppliers outside the bloc meet equivalent standards for monitoring, reporting and verifying methane emissions. The Commission proposed a one-year delay following pressure from the oil and gas industry and several EU countries, recently joined by France, citing energy security and high prices amid continued disruption to key shipping routes in the Middle East.

Parliament President Roberta Metsola described the vote as "strengthening Europe's energy security" amid uncertainty in global energy markets, writing on X that it gives "energy companies more time to prepare for the new rules." EPP group spokesman on industry and energy Christian Ehler called the Commission's one-year delay "far from sufficient," adding that "this is not about increasing or permitting further methane emissions, it is about security of supply and lower energy prices."

The Greens and the Left opposed the longer delay. Jutta Paulus, a Greens/EFA MEP and lead negotiator on the methane regulation, accused the Commission of bowing to pressure from the oil and gas industry. "The call by Conservatives and the Far-Right to postpone the methane regulation by three years is an absolute scandal," she said. "Once again, Conservatives and the far right are pursuing policies that undermine climate action and serve the interests of the fossil fuel industry."

Environmental groups also condemned the vote. Flora Witkowski, gas policy coordinator at Climate Action Network (CAN), said the delay "only serves the interest of the fossil fuel industry, not people" and would cost an additional €185bn in damages. The European Civil Society Observatory on Methane argued that implementing the regulation fully and on schedule could generate around €704 billion in climate, health and economic benefits, against regulatory costs of €49 billion, and prevent an estimated 155,000 premature deaths worldwide by 2030.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The delay weakens one of the EU's flagship climate tools at a time when methane emissions remain a major driver of global warming.
It signals that energy security and industrial competitiveness are increasingly trumping environmental commitments in Brussels.
The outcome could affect global LNG suppliers, including the US, which had pressed for softer rules.

Background

The EU adopted its first methane regulation in May 2024, setting up a framework for measuring, reporting and verifying methane emissions in the energy sector. The rules require importers to ensure foreign suppliers meet equivalent standards, with penalties for non-compliance. The European Commission proposed in July to waive penalties for three years and delay the regulation by one year, citing industry concerns and US pressure. The centre-right EPP pushed for a longer delay, and a breakdown in political negotiations led to Thursday's vote.

Key Perspectives

European Parliament majority (EPP and allies): Argue the delay is needed for legal certainty, operational readiness and equal treatment of EU producers and importers, while maintaining energy security and affordable prices. European Commission and center-left MEPs: Proposed a one-year delay as a compromise; Social Democrats and Liberals backed that position, seeing it as balancing climate and supply concerns. Environmental groups and Greens/Left MEPs: Condemn the longer delay as a giveaway to the fossil fuel industry that undermines climate action, prolongs the energy crisis, and incurs huge economic and health costs.

What to Watch

Whether the European Council of member states approves the three-year delay or seeks changes.
The Commission's mid-2029 assessment required under the EPP-backed proposal, which could trigger further adjustments.
Potential legal challenges or political fallout from climate activists and international partners.

Sources

Parliament votes to postpone methane rules by three years · Rapporteur
MEPs side with industry in vote to delay methane rules · Euronews
MEPs back three-year methane delay, triple what the EU Commission wanted · EUobserver

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10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

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SupportedThe European Parliament voted to delay the EU methane rules by three years, until 2031.Euronews: “European Parliament lawmakers on Thursday rejected a European Commission proposal to delay the EU's methane rules by one year, instead backing a three-year postponement until 2031.”
SupportedMEPs rejected the Commission’s proposed one-year delay and backed a longer postponement until 2031.Euronews: “European Parliament lawmakers on Thursday rejected a European Commission proposal to delay the EU's methane rules by one year, instead backing a three-year postponement until 2031.”
SupportedRoberta Metsola described the vote as “strengthening Europe's energy security.”Euronews: “Parliament President Roberta Metsola described the vote as “strengthening Europe’s energy security” amid uncertainty in global energy markets.”
SupportedMetsola wrote on X that the vote gives energy companies more time to prepare for the new rules.Euronews: ““The Parliament swiftly voted in favour of postponing certain obligations under the EU Methane Regulation, giving energy companies more time to prepare for the new rules.”
SupportedChristian Ehler called the Commission’s one-year delay “far from sufficient.”Euronews: “EPP group spokesman on industry and energy Christian Ehler had described the Commission's one-year delay as “far from sufficient”.”
SupportedEhler said the longer delay was about security of supply and lower energy prices, not increasing or permitting further methane emissions.Euronews: ““This is not about increasing or permitting further methane emissions, it is about security of supply and lower energy prices,” Ehler said.”
SupportedJutta Paulus called the three-year delay an “absolute scandal” and said Conservatives and the far right were pursuing policies that undermine climate action and serve fossil-fuel interests.Euronews: ““The call by Conservatives and the Far-Right to postpone the methane regulation by three years is an absolute scandal. Once again, Conservatives and the far right are pursuing policies that undermine climate action and serve the interests of the fossil fuel industry,” Paulus reacted on Thursday.”
SupportedFlora Witkowski said the delay “only serves the interest of the fossil fuel industry, not people.”Euronews: ““Today’s vote by the EU Parliament to delay the EU methane regulation only serves the interest of the fossil fuel industry, not people.”
SupportedWitkowski said the delay would cost an additional €185bn in damages.Euronews: “It will only facilitate Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels and prolong the energy price crisis, while costing an additional €185bn in damages”
SupportedThe European Civil Society Observatory on Methane estimated around €704 billion in benefits against €49 billion in regulatory costs, and said the measures could prevent an estimated 155,000 premature deaths worldwide by 2030.Euronews: “The group estimates that implementing the regulation fully and on schedule could generate around €704 billion in climate, health and economic benefits, against regulatory costs of €49 billion. It also argues that the measures could prevent an estimated 155,000 premature deaths worldwide by 2030.”