To: Competitiveness Council (Internal Market, Industry)
Cc: Working Party on Competitiveness and Growth (COMPGRO)
25th September 2025, Brussels
Integrating the EU Methane Regulation into the EU Simplification Agenda
Dear Ministers,
Ahead of the Competitiveness Council meeting on 29 September, we would like to share our recommendations
regarding the inclusion of the EU Methane Regulation within the EU Simplification Agenda.
The agenda of the meeting foresees a presentation by the Executive Vice-President Séjourné on the annual
progress report on simplification, followed by an exchange of views. We believe this discussion provides a timely
opportunity to ensure that the Methane Regulation is considered as part of the broader simplification efforts, as per
the Energy Council conclusions of 16 June 2025.
Achieving Europe’s climate ambitions requires not only setting bold objectives but also ensuring that policy
frameworks are clear, efficient, and practical to implement. The Methane Regulation is a central element of the
EU’s climate strategy. Its success, however, will depend on minimizing unnecessary administrative burdens, while
being efficient, proportionate, and ensuring full coherence with existing legislation. In this context, we welcome the
Energy Council conclusions, which invited the Commission to explore options to simplify and ease implementation
of the Methane regulation, including through the forthcoming Energy Omnibus. It is equally important that the
Competitiveness Council provides its perspective on this Regulation, as a well-calibrated revision will be essential
to securing affordable energy while strengthening the competitiveness of European industry.
IOGP Europe has long supported methane reduction efforts, well before the adoption of the Regulation, and
remains fully committed to contributing to its success. At the same time, we share concerns expressed by several
Member States that certain provisions, as currently drafted, risk unintended consequences, such as undermining
energy resilience, raising costs, and complicating supply diversification, particularly as Europe phases out Russian
imports and reshapes its energy system.
We commend the Commission’s efforts to facilitate dialogue through technical workshops and coordination
meetings with Competent Authorities. Yet, as Member States have underlined, addressing the core challenges of
the Methane Regulation requires more than discussion: they must be resolved through implementing measures,
secondary legislation, and, where necessary, targeted amendments to the primary legislation.
IOGP Europe is registered as an ASBL under Belgian Law. Company number 0759.579.581.
Registered office: 188A Avenue de Tervueren, B-1150 Brussels, Belgium
To ensure that the Regulation delivers its environmental objectives while remaining feasible in practice, we
respectfully recommend targeted adjustments, including:
Introducing alternatives in primary legislation and providing flexible compliance pathways where the
Regulation sets technically unfeasible or disproportionate requirements (both for domestic production and
imports);
Ensuring legal certainty by clarifying obligations and allowing sufficient time and flexibility for
implementation;
Adjusting disproportionate penalty provisions (such as the potential fine of up to 20% of annual turnover
for legal entities) to better reflect realistic compliance progress and available options.
We reaffirm our strong commitment to methane emission reductions and respectfully urge the Commission and
Member States to make full use of available instruments, including the Energy Omnibus, to simplify and facilitate
the implementation of the EU Methane Regulation. We remain ready to work with you to achieve our shared climate
and competitiveness objectives.
Yours sincerely,
François-Régis Mouton de Lostalot
Managing Director, IOGP Europe
Saatja: "François-Régis Mouton de Lostalot-Lassalle" <
[email protected]>
Teema: IOGP Europe Letter to Competitiveness Council
Kuupäev: 2025-09-26 08:26
Tähelepanu! Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga.
Tundmatu saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada.
Object: Integrating the EU Methane Regulation into the EU Simplification
Agenda
Dear Ministers,
Dear State Secretaries,
Dear Deputy Permanent Representatives,
On behalf of IOGP Europe please find enclosed a letter in preparation for
the Competitiveness Council due to take place on Monday 29th September,
where we call for targeted amendments to the EU Methane Emissions Regulation
in the context of the broader effort to simplify the EU legislative
framework.
We welcome this opportunity to share with you our recommendations and remain
available for any additional information you may need.
Yours sincerely,
François-Régis Mouton de Lostalot-Lassalle
François‑Régis Mouton de Lostalot‑Lassalle
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Managing Director, Europe
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IOGP
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<tel:+32%20499%20753%20754> +32 499 753 754
International Association of Oil & Gas Producers
|
www.iogpeurope.org <http://www.iogpeurope.org>
|
Reception: +32 2 882 16 53
<https://www.oilandgaseurope.org/>