European Parliament Backs Delay to Methane Obligations on Energy Imports

Parliament votes for a longer delay

On October 22, 2026, the European Parliament backed pushing back core obligations in the EU Methane Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2024/1787, by three years. The proposed delay covers companies that bring oil, gas and coal into the bloc and, for methane-intensity reporting, EU producers. According to Parliament’s press release, MEPs adopted the position by 341 votes to 225, with six abstentions.

The vote is on a proposed amendment, not on law in force. The European Commission’s proposal was narrower: a one-year postponement of the importers’ equivalent-monitoring obligation, which under the current regulation applies from January 1, 2027, and of methane-intensity reporting, currently due by August 5, 2028. Parliament wants three years instead.

New timelines

Equivalent monitoring: importers must show that the contracts behind their supplies meet monitoring standards equivalent to the EU’s. Under the current regulation this applies from January 1, 2027; the Commission proposed May 31, 2029; Parliament’s position would move it to May 31, 2031.

Methane-intensity reporting would move from August 5, 2028 under the current regulation (August 5, 2029 in the Commission’s proposal) to August 5, 2031.

Reasons cited

Importers have argued that compliant supplies may be hard to secure while energy markets stay tight and prices remain high because of the Middle East conflict.

Sanctions carve-out

Imports from countries under EU sanctions that restrict or ban this trade would be excluded from the extension.

What comes next

Parliament can now open negotiations with the Council of the European Union on the changes. The vote fixes Parliament’s position, not the final law. Until an amending regulation is agreed and published, the January 1, 2027 date in the current regulation still applies.

Why it matters for shipping

The obligations fall on EU importers and producers, not on ships; shipping meets them indirectly, through the supply contracts behind crude, LNG and coal cargoes bound for the EU. Ships’ own methane slip falls under EU MRV, the ETS and FuelEU Maritime.