Conclusions from Council presidency prompt concerns for European climate leadership and broader regulatory framework

Brussels – Today’s Council presidency conclusions invite the European Commission to assess whether the newly adopted EU Methane Regulation should be included in the next Omnibus package, prompting concerns that this could undermine one of the EU’s most impactful new climate laws. 

“The EU Methane Regulation is one of the most significant climate achievements of the last legislative term, and it’s already driving positive change in Europe and around the world,” said Alessia Virone, Government Affairs Director for Europe at CATF. “Revisiting it so soon after adoption, under the banner of simplification, could send the wrong signal about Europe’s credibility as a global climate leader and about the stability of its regulatory framework.” 

While the Council presidency’s language does not reopen the Regulation outright, the invitation to reconsider its provisions raises the risk of weakening its ambition. As CATF laid out in a letter to the Energy Ministers, the implementation challenges raised by some Member States are either overstated or fully addressable without amending the law: 

• Onshore and offshore implementation challenges: Upgrading flaring and venting infrastructure is necessary to cut emissions and improve safety. The Regulation already allows for risk-based flexibility, and site-specific challenges – such as offshore LDAR requirements or end-of-life infrastructure – can be addressed through technical guidance and tailored implementation. There is no need to change the legal text to accommodate these scenarios. 

• Measurement and monitoring requirements: Facility-level methane measurements and LDAR inspections serve different but complementary functions. While satellite tools like MARS are useful for spotting large leaks, they cannot replace the precision or accountability of on-site detection. In fact, 70% of leaks can come from smaller sources emitting at levels too low for satellites to detect.  In addition, even large sources can be obscured by terrain, cloud cover and lack of sunlight. The only pathway forward is a layered approach as envisioned by the Regulation. Streamlining implementation is possible through guidance – not by removing proven tools that help operators detect and address leaks early.  

• Coal sector provisions: Methane from abandoned underground coal mines can persist for decades. Article 25(2) plays a critical role by requiring monitoring infrastructure at these sites, helping identify high-emitting vents, targeting mitigation, and closing a long-standing regulatory gap. With abandoned mine methane accounting for an estimated 25% of coal mine emissions in the EU, the provision is essential to delivering meaningful climate impact. 

• Importer obligations and traceability: Proven systems such as trace-and-claim are already being used across global fossil fuel supply chains. The Regulation offers clear compliance pathways – such as OGMP 2.0 Level 5 with independent verification – and sufficient time for adaptation. Standardised digital reporting can further streamline implementation without lowering ambition or creating trade risks. 

• Strategic infrastructure and national security: Where legitimate security concerns exist, they can be addressed through targeted exemptions accompanied by justification and oversight, without weakening core transparency or emissions requirements. Narrow, clearly defined safeguards are more appropriate than broad exemptions that could undermine the Regulation’s integrity. 

“There’s a clear path to effective implementation without reopening the law,” said Virone. “Most concerns, while understandable, can be addressed with guidelines, digital tools, and support to national authorities. What’s needed now is follow-through, not a rewrite.” 

Industry concerns about market disruption are also overstated. Compliance with the Regulation comes at low marginal cost, and the EU’s status as a premium market means exporters are unlikely to forgo access, especially as global gas markets move toward oversupply. And, as already noted, proven systems for traceability already exist, and the Regulation offers clear, workable pathways for demonstrating equivalence. 

The Council presidency’s conclusions reflect broader questions around the role of the Omnibus simplification agenda and how it is used. While simplification is a legitimate objective, it must not become a vehicle for renegotiating carefully balanced policy frameworks. The focus now should be on implementation: providing Member States with the guidance, tools, and support they need to operationalise the Regulation effectively and efficiently. 

“Using simplification as a shortcut to weaken hard-fought policies is a troubling trend,” said Virone. “If every new law is up for renegotiation before it’s even implemented, we risk eroding the certainty and ambition needed to deliver on Europe’s climate and energy goals.” 

The Commission is expected to assess the Council’s request later this year. In the meantime, Member States and EU institutions should stay the course – prioritising implementation support, advancing technical readiness, and upholding the Regulation’s climate integrity. That means reinforcing, not revisiting, the EU’s methane commitments.