The European Commission is ready to postpone the entry into force of some methane regulations regarding gas importers for a year. This is another element of the Green Deal in which Brussels, under pressure from member states, is considering changing the original schedule. This concerns the obligations imposed on importers of gas, oil and coal. Poland, which has been pushing for a change in these rules for months, is pleased that Brussels has finally noticed the problem, but believes that a year is not enough.
We are glad that the Commission has finally noticed the problem and is open to talking about it. However, our position is clear: three years is a better solution, because we are not sure whether one year is a sufficient period to cope with these challenges, said Deputy Minister of Energy Wojciech Wrochna to RMF FM.
It's about security of supply
The new regulations, which are to enter into force from January next year, impose obligations on gas importers from outside the EU, including monitoring and reporting methane emissions. The problem is that some suppliers are not yet prepared to meet these requirements.
Poland fears that the regulations coming into force too quickly may limit the number of gas suppliers to Europe. If the supplier has to meet very stringent requirements, he may find it easier to sell the raw material on another market where there are no such obligations.
We will be ready to accept the implementation of these regulations only when we are sure that it will not threaten the security of gas supplies, says Wrochna.
As the deputy minister emphasizes, the relaxation proposed by the EC regarding penalties a few weeks ago is insufficient because there is still a serious legal problem and may discourage some suppliers from selling gas in Europe.
Poland wanted three years
Warsaw was one of the initiators of the June appeal by 17 member states to postpone the application of some of the regulations. From the beginning, Poland indicated the need for a three-year transition period. At that time, the Commission was reluctant to do so. Now her position has clearly changed. In Dublin, during Wednesday's meeting of energy ministers, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen signaled the possibility of a one-year postponement.
This month, the pressure on Brussels was increased by France, which had not yet joined the position of 17 countries in June. Now President Emmanuel Macron has called on the Commission to postpone the regulations for a year, pointing to the situation on the energy market.
The United States is also putting pressure on the Commission to change its position. Deputy Minister Wrochna admits that there is strong pressure from the US. There is quite an active, unambiguous position of both the administration and American business, showing that these solutions, as they function today, do not provide sufficient legal security - says the deputy minister.
One year or three years?
There is no final decision yet. From Poland's point of view, a one-year postponement would be better than no postponement, but Poland does not reject the possibility of a compromise.
As an RMF FM journalist found out, consultations between member states are currently underway. The position of the EC itself regarding the one-year postponement is not yet guaranteed. The point is that the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is "very green" and is reluctant to dismantle the Green Deal, her flagship project from the previous term.
There is also a procedural problem. If the change requires a full legislative procedure, the consent of not only Member States but also the European Parliament will be required. This may mean long negotiations and resistance from some MEPs who do not want to weaken EU climate regulations.
