PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron has asked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to ease EU rules on the composition of fuel and on methane emissions reporting obligations in a bid to keep soaring energy prices under control. Macron asked the Commission to delay by one year new EU rules that would impose fines on oil and gas companies which fail to report their methane emissions. The rule, designed to reduce emissions of one of the most potent planet-warming gases, has been heavily criticized by the U.S. government and fossil fuel sector, who say it will frighten off oil and gas importers and endanger Europe's energy security.
The French President also also proposed to temporarily soften EU rules on the quality of fuels, which regulate parameters such as the level of density and vaporization limits, and to allow the use of more biofuels in diesel. "I believe it is useful to draw your attention to several points which, if addressed and implemented at the European level, could collectively strengthen our import and production capacities in the short term," Macron wrote in a letter sent to von der Leyen last Friday and seen by POLITICO. The letter was first reported by French media.
The Commission had already recommended member countries to hold off on fining offenders until the end of 2029. But, to provide more legal certainty to fossil importers, the French President asked to clearly delay those rules by one year. For months, the government has been paying fuel subsidies to most-affected sectors and, later on Tuesday, it is expected to present more measures.
France will hold a G7 meeting to address skyrocketing fuel prices and the other consequences of the Middle East crisis.
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