BRUSSELS, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Wednesday proposed postponing certain obligations for fossil fuel importers to ease pressure on them due to high energy prices and supply concerns.
The obligations under the European Union (EU) Methane Regulation would be postponed for one year, it was announced.
The proposal came as the conflict in the Middle East has put further strain on global energy markets, driving up prices and raising the risk of reduced availability of oil and gas, the Commission said.
The proposed amendment to the regulation would delay monitoring, reporting and verification obligations for importers of natural gas, oil and coal, as well as methane-intensity reporting requirements for both importers and EU producers.
The Commission said the postponement would give importers additional time to comply with the rules, while helping avoid further pressure on security of supply of imported fossil fuels.
Nevertheless, it added that the amendment would not change the overall ambition, integrity or scope of the regulation, reaffirming the bloc's commitment to reducing methane emissions.
The proposal will now be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU for adoption.
Adopted in 2024, the EU Methane Regulation introduced phased requirements to increase transparency on methane emissions. It covers domestic energy production, transportation and processing, as well as imports of oil, gas and coal.
According to the Commission, methane is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions after carbon dioxide. ■