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Open Letter: NGOs Call for Strong EU Methane Regulation

May 8, 2023 Category: Policy Work Area: Methane

On 9 May 2023, the European Parliament will have the opportunity to support a landmark position on the Methane Regulation. This is a critical piece of legislation poised to both slow global warming and increase energy security by reducing methane emissions in the energy sector.

The joint draft report on the Methane Regulation, prepared by the ENVI and ITRE committees, reached important compromises on some of the most effective measures to reduce methane emissions within the EU, and works towards setting critical standards for imported energy, a critical step strengthening Europe’s energy security. It was supported in the committees by a wide margin of 114-15, with 3 abstentions, indicative of the strong cross-party support for the agreements reached. These compromises had the support of the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, ECR, and The Left.

Tabled plenary amendments 268-280 drastically change the compromises reached in the ENVI and ITRE Committees after months of negotiations and severely undermine core functions of the entire regulation. We call on Parliament to oppose the plenary amendments 268-280, and to maintain support for the position jointly agreed upon by the ENVI and ITRE Committees, including by the EPP group.