1. By 5 May 2025 and by 31 May every year thereafter, importers shall provide the information set out in Annex IX to the competent authorities of the Member State in which they are established. Where importers fail to provide that information, in whole or in part, they shall provide sound justification to those competent authorities for such failure and set out the actions that they have undertaken to obtain that information.
The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 34 to amend this Regulation by modifying the information required to be provided by importers.
2. By 5 August 2025 and by 31 August every year thereafter, Member States shall submit to the Commission the information provided by importers.
The Commission shall make that information available in accordance with Article 30.
Equivalence of monitoring, reporting and verification measures
1. From 1 January 2027, importers shall demonstrate, and report in accordance with Article 27(1), to the competent authorities of the Member State in which they are established that the contracts concluded or renewed on or after 4 August 2024 for the supply of crude oil, natural gas or coal produced outside the Union cover only crude oil, natural gas or coal that is subject to monitoring, reporting and verification measures applied at the level of the producer that are equivalent to those set out in this Regulation.
2. For contracts concluded before 4 August 2024 for the supply of crude oil, natural gas or coal produced outside the Union, importers shall undertake all reasonable efforts to require that crude oil, natural gas or coal is subject to monitoring, reporting and verification measures applied at the level of the producer that are equivalent to those set out in this Regulation. Those efforts may include the amendment of those contracts.
From 1 January 2027, importers shall annually inform the competent authorities of the Member State in which they are established of the results of such efforts, as part of the information to be provided pursuant to in Article 27(1) and, in case of failure, provide sound justification to those competent authorities for such failure and set out the actions that they have undertaken as part of those efforts.
3. The Commission shall issue recommendations containing optional model clauses related to the information to be provided for the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2, to be used by importers placing crude oil, natural gas and coal on the Union market in the process of modifying or renewing existing contracts or signing new contracts for the supply of crude oil, natural gas and coal.
4. The competent authorities of the Member States shall protect the confidentiality of the information received from importers under this Article, in accordance with Union law. The competent authorities shall provide that information to the Commission which shall protect the confidentiality of such information, in accordance with Union law.
5. For the purposes of this Article, monitoring, reporting and verification measures shall be considered to be equivalent to those set out in this Regulation in the following cases:
(a)
crude oil, natural gas and coal are subject to independent third party verification equivalent to that set out in Articles 8 and 9 and the producer established in a third country applies:
(i)
for crude oil and natural gas, monitoring and reporting measures ensuring quantification of methane emissions equivalent to those set out in Article 12 or monitoring and reporting at OGMP 2.0 level 5;
(ii)
for coal, monitoring and reporting measures equivalent to those set out in Article 20; or
(b)
the third country has in place and applies to producers and exporters established in that third country and supplying crude oil, natural gas or coal to the Union market a regulatory framework on monitoring, reporting and verification that is at least equivalent to that applied in the Union; in particular, the third country has demonstrated that those monitoring and reporting requirements ensure at least source- and site-level quantification and regular reporting equivalent to those set out in Article 12, for crude oil and natural gas, and in Article 20, for coal, and that effective verification by an independent third party, equivalent to that set out in Articles 8 and 9, as well as effective supervision and enforcement are in place.
6. For the purposes of paragraph 5, point (b), the Commission shall set out, by means of an implementing act, the procedure and requirements concerning evidence to be provided by a third country for establishing equivalence. That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 35(3).
The procedure of establishing equivalence may be initiated on the request of a third country or by the Commission.
The Commission shall actively engage with all third countries exporting crude oil, natural gas or coal to the Union market to obtain their agreement to initiate such a procedure, taking into account the quantity imported from those third countries and their potential for reducing their methane emissions.
Equivalence shall be established by the Commission, by means of implementing acts for each relevant third country, only where the third country fulfils all the conditions set out in paragraph 5, point (b), of this Article and all required evidence is provided. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 35(3) of this Regulation. The Commission shall refrain from adopting such implementing acts where their adoption would circumvent restrictive measures adopted under Article 215 TFEU restricting the import of crude oil, natural gas or coal.
Equivalence may be revoked at any time by the Commission, by means of an implementing act, where the third country no longer complies, in law or in practice, with the conditions set out in paragraph 5, point (b), of this Article during a period of at least 12 months. That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 35(3). Prior to adopting that implementing act, the Commission shall notify the third country of its concerns and give it an opportunity to state its views.
When preparing the implementing acts referred to in this paragraph, the Commission shall inform the Coordination Group for oil and petroleum products, established by Council Directive 2009/119/EC ( 28 ) , the Gas Coordination Group, established by Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 29 ) , and the Electricity Coordination Group, established by the Commission, as well as other relevant stakeholders. Those implementing acts shall enter into force not earlier than 30 calendar days following the date of their adoption.
7. Importers shall be exempt from the reporting obligations set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 where they import crude oil, natural gas or coal from a third country for which equivalence has been established in accordance with paragraph 6.
8. From 4 August 2024, where appropriate and subject to the applicable procedures, the Commission shall propose and aim for the Union to enter into cooperation frameworks with third countries from which the Union imports crude oil, natural gas or coal to support them in establishing a monitoring, reporting and verification system equivalent to that established in this Regulation. The Commission shall not recommend entering into such cooperation frameworks where those frameworks would circumvent restrictive measures adopted under Article 215 TFEU on the import of crude oil, natural gas or coal.
Methane intensity of the production of crude oil, natural gas and coal
1. By 5 August 2028 and every year thereafter, for the supply contracts concluded or renewed on or after 4 August 2024, Union producers and, pursuant to Article 27(1), importers shall report to the competent authorities of the Member State in which they are established the methane intensity of the production of crude oil, natural gas and coal placed by them on the Union market calculated in accordance with the methodology set out pursuant to paragraph 4 of this Article.
For supply contracts concluded before 4 August 2024, Union producers and, pursuant to Article 27(1), importers shall undertake all reasonable efforts to report to the competent authorities of the Member State in which they are established the methane intensity of the production of crude oil, natural gas and coal placed by them on the Union market calculated in accordance with the methodology set out pursuant to paragraph 4 of this Article. From 5 August 2028, Union producers and importers placing crude oil, natural gas or coal on the Union market shall report annually to the competent authorities of the Member State in which they are established of the results of such efforts.
2. By 5 August 2030 and every year thereafter, Union producers and importers placing crude oil, natural gas and coal on the Union market under supply contracts concluded or renewed after 5 August 2030 shall demonstrate to the competent authorities of the Member State in which they are established that the methane intensity of the production of crude oil, natural gas and coal placed by them on the Union market, calculated in accordance with the methodology set out pursuant to paragraph 4, is below the maximum methane intensity values established in accordance with paragraph 6 to promote the global methane emissions reductions for those products.
3. The competent authorities of the Member States shall protect the confidentiality of the information received from Union producers and importers under this Article, in accordance with Union law. The competent authorities shall provide that information to the Commission, which shall protect the confidentiality of such information, in accordance with Union law.
4. By 5 August 2027, the Commission shall adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 34 to supplement this Regulation by setting out the methodology for calculating, at the level of the producer, the methane intensity of the production of crude oil, natural gas and coal placed on the Union market. That methodology shall take into account different production processes and site conditions, as well as existing international methodologies and best practice for calculating methane intensity. That methodology shall be non-discriminatory and based on transparent and objective criteria. When preparing such delegated acts, the Commission shall inform the Coordination Group for oil and petroleum products, the Gas Coordination Group, the Electricity Coordination Group and other relevant stakeholders.
5. By 5 August 2029, the Commission shall assess the potential impact of various levels of maximum methane intensity values associated with crude oil, natural gas and coal placed on the Union market at the level of the producer, and present a report to the European Parliament and to the Council. That report shall include an assessment of the potential reduction of global methane emissions, of the impact on the security of energy supply at Union and national level and on the competitiveness of the Union’s economy, and of the potential global and regional market distortions. That report shall also include a market assessment with regard to the methane intensity of current and future supplies to the Union until 2049 through both long-term contracts and spot purchases. That assessment shall analyse the situation per Member State, taking into account contractual commitments entered into before 4 August 2024, energy infrastructure capacities and potential constraints.
6. On the basis of the assessment referred to in paragraph 5 and on objective criteria, the Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 34 to supplement this Regulation by setting out the maximum methane intensity values associated with crude oil, natural gas and coal placed on the Union market at the level of the producer. Those delegated acts shall be consistent with the methodology for calculating the methane intensity of the production of crude oil, natural gas and coal placed on the Union market set out in accordance with this Article. Those delegated acts shall also specify different methane intensity classes for crude oil, natural gas and coal. Those maximum methane intensity values shall be determined separately for crude oil, natural gas and coal, covering the best performing class or classes. Those maximum methane intensity values and methane intensity classes shall take into account the different sources, production processes and site conditions and shall be set at levels that promote reductions of the global methane emissions in relation to the crude oil, natural gas and coal placed on the Union market, while preserving the security of energy supply at Union and national level, ensuring a balanced distribution of the volumes of crude oil, natural gas and coal placed on the Union market as well as non-discriminatory treatment, and protecting the competitiveness of the Union’s economy.
Methane transparency database and methane performance profiles
1. By 5 February 2026, the Commission shall establish and maintain a methane transparency database, including relevant information on Member States and third countries, undertakings, importers and volumes of crude oil, natural gas and coal placed on the Union market, in particular the information submitted to it pursuant to Article 12(8), Article 18(10), Article 20(7), Article 23(2), Article 25(8), Article 27(2), Article 28(4) and Article 29(3).
2. In addition to the information referred to in paragraph 1, the database shall include at least the following information:
(a)
a list of third countries where crude oil, natural gas or coal is produced and from which it is exported to the Union;
(b)
for each Member State or third country referred in point (a) the following information:
(i)
whether it has mandatory regulatory measures in place on energy sector methane emissions, covering the measures set out in this Regulation regarding measurement, reporting, verification and mitigation of methane emissions in the energy sector, in particular restrictions on venting and flaring;
(ii)
whether it has signed the Paris Agreement adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and whether it has joined the Global Methane Pledge;
(iii)
whether it submits national inventory reports in accordance with the requirements of the UNFCCC, where applicable;
(iv)
whether the national inventory reports submitted pursuant to the UNFCCC include tier 3 reporting of methane emissions in the energy sector, where applicable, and specifying the categories of methane emissions reported at tier 3;
(v)
the amount of methane emissions in the energy sector specified in the national inventory reports submitted pursuant to the UNFCCC, where applicable, and whether that data was subject to independent verification;
(vi)
where available, electronic links to national data sources with information on methane emissions in the energy sector;
(c)
for each Member State, a list of importers placing crude oil, natural gas or coal on the Union market;
(d)
for each third country referred to in point (a) the following information:
(i)
a list of producers or exporters of crude oil, natural gas or coal into the Union, as applicable, and whether they are part of any global initiatives for the reduction of methane emissions, such as the OGMP and the Zero Routine Flaring Initiative;
(ii)
indicative values estimating the methane emissions related to the transport of crude oil, natural gas and coal.
The methane transparency database shall serve as an information tool that is to be publicly available free of charge.
The methane transparency database shall indicate where the quality and reliability of the submitted information have been verified by independent third parties.
3. By 5 August 2026, on the basis of the information available in the methane transparency database, the Commission shall publish the methane performance profiles of Member States and of Union producers or importers, as applicable, which place crude oil, natural gas or coal on the Union market, as well as of third countries from which the Union imports crude oil, natural gas or coal and of third-country producers or exporters which supply them to the Union.
4. The methane performance profiles published in accordance with paragraph 3 shall be updated annually and shall contain, at least and as applicable:
(a)
methane emissions related to crude oil, natural gas and coal placed on the Union market and a data quality assessment for reported methane emissions, including the level of OGMP 2.0 reporting, where relevant;
(b)
an assessment of the efforts undertaken to monitor, report and reduce methane emissions by Union producers or importers, as well as by third-country producers or exporters, placing crude oil, natural gas or coal on the Union market, including by region where relevant;
(c)
analysis of super-emitting events that occurred in Member States or in third countries from which the Union imports crude oil, natural gas or coal and how those events were addressed.
5. The methane performance profiles published in accordance with paragraph 3 shall be made publicly available online free of charge.
6. This Article shall apply without prejudice to Directive (EU) 2016/943.
Global methane monitoring tool and rapid reaction mechanism
1. By 5 August 2026, the Commission shall establish a global methane monitoring tool based on satellite data and input from several certified data providers and services, including the Copernicus component of the Union Space Programme established by Regulation (EU) 2021/696. To that end, the Commission may use existing international tools or frameworks, where available.
The global methane monitoring tool shall be made publicly available and shall provide regular updates at least on the occurrence, magnitude and location of high methane-emitting events from energy sources within or outside the Union.
2. By 5 February 2026, the Commission shall establish a rapid reaction mechanism to address super-emitting events.
The Commission shall promptly notify any detected super-emitting event to the Member State or third country under whose jurisdiction the event has taken place, as appropriate. Where feasible, the Commission shall also notify the producer related to the source or set of connected sources emitting methane. That notification shall include a request to promptly provide additional information on the super-emitting event and the remedial measures taken or planned to be taken to mitigate the impact or stop the event, including the timeframe within which those measures are to take place. The Commission shall undertake all necessary contacts in order to obtain and verify the information received in connection with the event, including, where applicable, in cooperation with competent international organisations. To that end, the Commission may use existing international tools or frameworks, where available.
3. The Commission shall propose to establish on the Union’s behalf bilateral dialogues with third countries from which the Union imports crude oil, natural gas or coal with the aim to set up a framework for an information exchange and an early detection and warning system to detect and alert each other of the occurrence of super-emitting events and remedial measures taken or to be taken in order to prevent or stop such events. Those dialogues shall also aim to identify ways to accelerate the reduction of methane emissions in the energy sector and, if necessary, may offer an exchange of best practices and advice to set up monitoring, reporting, verification and reduction measures equivalent to those established in this Regulation.
The Commission shall not propose to establish bilateral dialogues with third countries where that would circumvent restrictive measures adopted under Article 215 TFEU on the import of crude oil, natural gas and coal.
4. Based on the monitoring carried out in the context of the dialogues referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3, the Commission shall keep the European Parliament and the Council informed about the notifications of super-emitting events and the implementation of remedial measures in the Union and in third countries from which the Union imports crude oil, natural gas or coal and any potential impact on the security of energy supply at Union and national level.
5. This Article shall apply without prejudice to Directive (EU) 2016/943.
