Written by Henrique Morgado Simões (2nd edition, updated on 05.05.2023).
On 15 December 2021, the Commission presented a proposal to regulate methane emissions reductions in the energy sector. The proposal is part of the second batch of proposals in the ‘fit for 55’ package, aiming to align EU climate and energy laws with the EU Climate Law’s 2030 target. The proposal aims to address gaps in current legislation: those relating to methane emissions from upstream exploration and the production of oil and fossil gas, but also those from the gathering and processing of fossil gas, the transmission, distribution and underground storage of gas, and liquid gas terminals operating with fossil and/or renewable methane
In Parliament, the proposal was referred to the Committees on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). On 26 April 2023, the committees adopted a joint report, introducing several amendments to the proposal. For instance, by 31 December 2025 the Commission would have to set a binding 2030 EU methane emissions reduction target covering all relevant emitting sectors. The report would introduce changes to the monitoring and reporting requirements and the mitigation measures. Parliament is expected to vote on the report during the May I 2023 plenary session.
Versions
- May 2023: Fit for 55 package: Reducing methane emissions in the energy sector (2nd edition)
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on methane emissions reduction in the energy sector and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/942 |
Committee responsible: | Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI); Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) | COM(2021) 805 15.12.2021 |
Rapporteur: | Pascal Canfin (Renew, France); Jutta Paulus (Greens/EFA, Germany) | 2021/0423(COD) |
Shadow rapporteurs: | Massimiliano Salini (EPP, Italy); Maria Spyraki (EPP, Greece); Jens Geier (S&D, Germany); Günther Sidl (S&D, Austria); Martin Hojsík (Renew, Slovakia); Jutta Paulus (Greens/EFA, Germany) Izabela-Helena Kloc (ECR, Poland); Anna Zalewska (ECR, Poland); Mick Wallace (GUE/NGL, Ireland) | Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) |
Next steps expected: Vote in plenary |




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