Calls for equal standards on energy imports
From January 2027, companies importing oil and gas into the European Union will be required to meet strict monitoring, reporting and verification standards tied to methane emissions from their suppliers. A group of US lawmakers is now urging the EU to stick firmly to those rules and resist any move to exempt American energy producers if US regulations are not enforced rigorously enough.
In a letter obtained by Euronews and signed by 24 members of Congress, the lawmakers describe the EU’s methane regulation as a vital measure to curb the venting and flaring of natural gas. Methane, they note, is a powerful climate pollutant that can trap up to 30 times more heat than carbon dioxide in the short term. They argue that applying the same rules to all exporters is essential to reward cleaner producers and prevent unfair trade advantages.
Tensions with Washington as trade talks loom
The lawmakers are calling on the European Commission to work closely with US federal and state authorities, industry, academics and NGOs to resolve technical challenges linked to the law’s rollout, rather than granting broad exemptions. The letter, dated February 4, stresses that clear and consistent standards would help reduce trade frictions between countries with higher environmental expectations.
Among the signatories are Sheldon Whitehouse, Scott H. Peters, Dan Goldman, Mike Quigley, Jared Huffman, Kathy Castor and Laura Friedman. Their stance contrasts with comments from US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who criticised the EU’s methane law during a visit to Brussels last October, warning it could disrupt trade. The issue also casts a shadow over a proposed EU-US energy deal that could see Europe buy around $750 billion worth of oil, gas and nuclear energy from the US by 2028.
Simplified rollout, but no retreat on ambition
The European Commission has acknowledged concerns about the complexity of the new rules and has outlined ways to make compliance easier. These include allowing the use of third-party certificates to verify emissions at production sites and introducing a digital “trace and claim” system to track fuel through the supply chain.
Despite these adjustments, Brussels insists the heart of the law remains intact. Commission officials say there are no plans for exemptions and that the focus is now on pragmatic implementation that also safeguards energy security. At the same time, uncertainty persists in the US, where tougher methane rules introduced by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2024 were later delayed, leaving exporters unclear about future requirements.
Environmental groups argue that companies already investing in methane monitoring and reduction stand to gain from strong, enforceable standards. According to the International Energy Agency, methane accounts for roughly 30% of global warming since the industrial revolution, underscoring why the EU’s approach is being watched closely on both sides of the Atlantic.
