In a written answer to a parliamentary question from S&D MEP Nora Mebarek on 12 June 2026, Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen declined to assess whether French authorities have failed to implement the EU Methane Regulation, noting that the regulation only entered into force in August 2024 and many provisions apply at a later date. The response impacts local communities near industrial sites like Fos-sur-Mer, French regulators, and EU methane-emitting operators.
The question, submitted on 13 May 2026, cited a Le Monde article reporting ongoing methane leaks at oil and gas sites in southern France and raised concerns about the application of leak detection and repair obligations, emission inventories, and penalties. Jørgensen stated that the Commission is committed to monitoring implementation and has been engaging with Member State authorities through the EU Methane Regulation network of Competent Authorities, providing online guidance. However, he refrained from commenting on overall implementation across Member States due to the early stage of the regulation's application.
On air quality monitoring, Jørgensen pointed to the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (2024/2881), which introduces a new obligation to monitor methane concentrations as an ozone precursor, to be transposed by 11 December 2026. The Commission is ready to support implementation through funding opportunities. The answer contained no concrete proposals, numerical targets, or deadlines beyond existing legal obligations, and offered only declarative support for monitoring and compliance. No specific institutional follow-up was signaled beyond continued engagement in the competent authorities network.