Knife-edge EU Council methane vote could hinge on commission action plan

EU member states remain deadlocked over whether to delay the bloc’s methane rules for oil and gas importers by one year or three, with neither side able to secure a majority.Ambassadors were due to agree the EU Council’s negotiating position this week, after a first attempt failed last week. But the Irish presidency has had to push the vote back to 6 November again as the two camps continue to disagree on the timeline. On the one hand, France, Spain, Finland, Denmark, Luxembourg and Portugal back the European commission’s proposal for a one-year delay. The other group, including Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Greece and Slovenia, wants three years.And then there is a third group of countries that haven’t decided yet, or could live with either scenario. The undecideds and waverers Belgium, for example, signed a call in June for a three-year delay, but could live with the commission’s timeline, though it would refuse a pause of more than three years, which parliament’s proposed 2029 review could open the door to. To read this story, log in or subscribeEnjoy access to all articles and 25 years of archives, comment and gift articles. Become a subscriber for as low as €1,75 per week.Read without limitsAlready a subscriber? Login