A week after 12 EU member states pressured the European Commission into pausing the bloc’s methane import rules, a group of US lawmakers have written to commission president Ursula von der Leyen urging her to hold the line.
US oil and gas companies and the senior members of the Donald Trump administration have lobbied hard to weaken the rule, and have been increasingly successful in winning EU support.
But the lawmakers write that “maintaining” the rules for all suppliers including those in the US is “essential” for both EU energy security and global climate goals and urged the commission “to ensure timely implementation and, above all, to preserve its ambition.”
The letter, dated 1 July and seen by EUobserver, was put together by Sean Casten, vice-chair of Congress’ environmental coalition, a caucus of roughly 100 House Democrats, and co-signed by four fellow representatives.
A spokesperson said “more congressional support is expected in the coming weeks” adding that “this core group chose to send their letter early to underscore the critical stakes.”
