A note from twelve Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden) requests a three-year postponement of certain obligations under the EU Methane Regulation (EUMR), arguing that immediate enforcement would harm energy security. The document, published on 25 June 2026, is an agenda item for the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council meeting scheduled for 26 June 2026.
The note specifically targets obligations under Chapter V, Article 28 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1787, which require importers to demonstrate compliance with methane intensity standards. The twelve Member States contend that geopolitical instability, global market volatility and limited Middle Eastern sources are tightening energy markets, and that immediate enforcement could narrow Europe's supplier base, increase the risk of redirected LNG and crude oil cargoes, reduce flexibility to balance supply gaps, and raise prices for households and industry. They argue that the European Commission's recommended non-binding penalty waiver for contracts concluded by end of 2027 is insufficient, as it leaves legal uncertainty, risks divergent national interpretation, and does not remove commercial or litigation exposure for importers.
The Member States invite the Commission to introduce targeted amendments postponing Chapter V, Article 28 obligations by three years, subject to regular review; assess the impact of import-related provisions on short-term supply security; and launch an implementation dialogue with Member States and stakeholders. They stress that any measures must apply in a balanced, non-discriminatory manner to both domestic and external operators.
The request reflects a tension between the EU's climate goals and energy security concerns. A postponement would preserve diversified supply, avoid price increases, and allow time to develop third-party verification protocols and certification schemes, but would delay the regulation's intended methane emissions reductions from imported energy. The Commission is now expected to respond to the Member States' invitation, with potential legislative amendments requiring co-decision by the European Parliament and Council.