BRUSSELS — Energy companies will be able to break the EU’s pollution limits and get away with it, under measures being considered by the European Commission ahead of a gathering of EU leaders in June.
The EU executive is considering a “zero-penalty” option that would allow national authorities not to fine companies that break strict rules governing methane emissions scheduled to come into force next year, according to two people familiar with the matter who were granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive discussions.
The EU’s flagship methane regulation will impose tough penalties on buyers and exporters of fossil fuels that don’t monitor and limit emissions of methane — a potent greenhouse gas that is a major cause of global warming — in line with EU standards, or a voluntary industry standard. Fossil fuel executives, as well as a number of EU countries and the Trump administration, claim the rules will be almost impossible to comply with, risking supply shortages and heavy fines.
The option not to penalize emitters could be in effect for between one and three years, one of the people said. The measure has not yet been confirmed, and the Commission may still choose not to adopt it, the second person said.
