On a miscellaneous item of the ‘Energy’ Council, the European Ministers were asked to give their views on the implementation of the ‘methane’ Regulation, which has been criticised for its administrative reporting requirements and lack of flexibility. They supported the Commission’s approach of simplified implementation.
In particular, the text has been criticised on several occasions by the United States, which is now requesting exemptions from the requirements for importing LNG into the EU until the end of 2035, as revealed by Reuters.
Speaking to the press, the European Commissioner for Energy, Dan Jørgensen, reiterated that the Commission was still in talks with the US government. “Of course, the United States, like all the other countries from which we import fossil fuels, will also be affected by the methane Regulation. We are trying to be as helpful as we can with regards to implementation, but the legislation stands”, he said.
In a note sent to Ministers ahead of the EU Council meeting, the Commission presented solutions to ensure compliance and harmonisation of the rules formulated for the requirements of the ‘methane’ Regulation. In particular, solutions need to be found for the more complex cases where it is difficult, if not impossible, to establish a direct or indirect link between the producer and the importer.
These solutions could take the form of a ‘certification’ method or a ‘trace-and-claim’ method.
The Commissioner also called for “the rapid adoption by Member States of appropriate security and supply clauses in the sanctions regimes, in accordance with the Regulation”. He added that the Commission would present “the main criteria for new compliance solutions” in the form of recommendations.
A number of countries - including Finland, Croatia, Belgium, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and the Netherlands - have backed a ‘non-paper’ from Poland proposing ways of simplifying the implementation of this Regulation with regard to import requirements.
“We call for a truly pragmatic implementation: less red tape, simpler rules, and solid protection of EU energy security and supply chain”, said Polish Secretary of State Wojciech Wrochna, who welcomed the Commission’s approach.
The European sectoral industry, represented by the Eurogas association, is also advocating flexibilities such as national penalty regimes with suspension and derogation options, and an early review process by the Commission through an ‘omnibus’ simplification framework.
To see the note from the European Commission: https://aeur.eu/f/k09
To see the Eurogas paper: https://aeur.eu/f/k0b (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)