A coalition of US lawmakers has formally urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to maintain the bloc’s methane import regulations, following intense lobbying by the oil and gas industry. The letter, which was dated 1 July and reviewed by EUobserver, emphasizes that upholding these standards for all suppliers—including those based in the United States—is vital for both European energy security and international climate objectives. The lawmakers specifically called on the Commission to ensure timely implementation and to preserve the current level of ambition within the regulation.
The initiative was led by Sean Casten, vice-chair of the environmental coalition in the US Congress, a caucus of roughly 100 house democrats, and co-signed by four fellow representatives. This letter was put together by Democrats and other representatives to highlight the critical nature of the issue. A spokesperson for the group indicated that additional congressional support is anticipated in the coming weeks. This appeal follows a recent congressional delegation visit to Brussels and Strasbourg from 15 to 17 June, where members met with key figures including European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera, and Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra. During these discussions, they reported hearing a consistent message that the methane regulation serves as a defining test of Europe’s ability to uphold climate policies amidst geopolitical and commercial pressures.
The push for the rules comes just one week after a group of 12 EU member states, led by the Czech Republic and including Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Belgium, pressured the Commission to pause the regulation’s import provisions for three years. During the 26 June energy council in Luxembourg, these nations cited concerns over legal uncertainty and potential supply risks. However, the US lawmakers challenged this narrative by pointing to research from the Norwegian market analyst Rystad Energy, which found no credible evidence that the regulations are currently driving price increases or supply pressures.
Rystad Energy’s research further suggested that gas supplies compliant with EU standards could reach roughly three times the bloc’s demand next year. While the analysts later clarified that they had not fully accounted for the risk of suppliers rerouting fuel due to legal uncertainty, other experts have questioned the validity of that specific concern. US oil and gas corporations, alongside senior figures in the Donald Trump administration, have actively lobbied to weaken these rules and have seen increasing success in gaining support from various EU member states.
