Key facts
- EPP and far-right groups voted to delay the EU Methane Regulation.
- The delay pushes implementation to 2030, a three-year postponement.
- The vote aligns with industry calls for a longer delay.
- MEPs cited concerns over legal certainty and energy supply.
The center-right European People's Party (EPP) collaborated with far-right lawmakers on Thursday to pass a vote delaying the implementation of the EU Methane Regulation, a key climate law targeting emissions from oil and gas companies. The regulation, which requires companies to monitor and report methane emissions, was originally set to take effect in 2027. The EPP proposed a three-year halt, pushing the deadline to 2030, which passed with 326 votes to 244. This move follows intense lobbying from the oil and gas industry and the U.S. government, who claimed the rules were unclear and could risk critical energy supplies to Europe. Lawmakers supporting the delay cited the need for legally certain rules to safeguard Europe's energy supply and competitiveness, particularly in light of current geopolitical pressures on energy markets.