Campaigners take EU Commission to ombudsman over methane delay, saying it ‘undermines the rule of law’

The Environmental Investigation Agency has lodged a complaint with the European Ombudsman against the EU Commission for mishandling methane regulations. The complaint criticizes two decisions: a recommendation to delay fines for rule-breaking importers until 2030 and a proposal to postpone import rules by a year due to supply concerns. The EIA contends that these actions lack evidence of a genuine threat to energy supply or price increases. They argue that the Commission's decisions undermine the legislative process and the rule of law in the EU, responding to fossil fuel industry pressure instead of enforcing existing regulations.