The European Commission has recommended that EU member states waive penalties for three years for oil and gas companies and energy importers that fail to comply with the bloc's methane emissions rules.
This move follows pressure from the U.S. government and industry groups, including the Trump administration, who claimed the regulations were too difficult to comply with and could lead to energy shortages.
The European Commission stated that waiving these penalties will ensure the security of energy supply. Instead of introducing new legal requirements, the commission has published optional model contract clauses to help energy importers meet the regulations.