The EPP group (European People's Party) collaborated with right-wingers to delay the implementation of the EU methane law. This action is the latest example showing that the largest group in the European Parliament has ignored old taboos and is working with right-wingers to facilitate the passing of laws that undermine environmental regulations.
Methane Laws and Delay in Implementation
The EU methane law requires fossil fuel companies to monitor and report methane emissions, one of the potent greenhouse gases that is a major contributor to global warming. These requirements were set to be enforced in 2027, but the Commission proposed a one-year delay last week, influenced by strong lobbying from the oil and gas industry as well as the U.S. government.
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The EPP group proposed a three-year delay, which was approved by 326 votes to 244. This proposal was supported by right-wing groups such as the “Patriots of Europe,” Marine Le Pen's “National Rally,” and the “Europe of Independent Nations,” which is linked to the German right-wing party (AfD). Additionally, European conservatives and reformists also supported this proposal.
Reactions from Other Parliament Members
Most representatives from other centrist and left-wing groups, including Renew Europe, Socialists and Democrats, and Greens, opposed the three-year delay. The right-wing majority also voted for an amendment that requires the Commission to review the law and propose any necessary changes by mid-2029.
This vote comes a year after the EPP group, which forms the group of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, set a new precedent by collaborating with right-wingers to vote on weakening environmental reporting laws. Since 2024, right-wing groups have formed the majority in the Parliament.
The vote on Thursday, if approved by other EU institutions, will push the deadline for the laws to 2030, which is far beyond the Commission's proposed delay to 2028. This follows a months-long pressure campaign from oil and gas companies, which claimed that some key elements of the laws requiring them to monitor and track methane gas leaks are unclear, increasing the likelihood of non-compliance that could hinder vital supplies to Europe.
The Parliament's position aligns with the industry's request for a three-year delay, and lawmakers echoed the sector's concerns about the risk of supply disruptions related to the rapid enforcement of the laws. Parliament representatives Andrea Wechlser and Christian Ehler, both from the EPP, stated: "Delaying the requirements for oil and gas importers in the methane law is a matter of political responsibility... We need clear and legal regulations... to ensure Europe's energy supply and competitiveness."
They also added: "The crisis in the Middle East is currently putting significant pressure on energy markets—about 20 percent of global LNG trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz."
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