WRITTEN QUESTION E-1987/01

by Dorette Corbey (PSE) and Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Council

(12 July 2001)

Subject: 33rd ICAO General Meeting (25 September to 5 October 2001)

On 14 December 2000, Parliament adopted a resolution on the Commission communication to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the taxation of aircraft fuel(1), in which Parliament calls on the Presidency and the Commission to keep Parliament fully informed about the 33rd General Meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) scheduled for 25 September to 5 October 2001.

Having regard to prevailing climate problems and the contribution made by air travel to CO2 emissions, the ICAO meeting appears, not least in the light of EU sustainable development strategy, to present a good opportunity for taking practical steps to limit greenhouse gas emissions by air traffic.

1. Can the Council state what the EU contribution will be in relation in particular to excise duty or aircraft fuel? What other measures to limit CO2 emissions by air traffic does the EU propose? What is the EU reaction to the development by Boeing of the high-speed Sonic Cruiser aircraft that will use 35 % more fuel than normal aircraft (see The Times, 19 June 2001)?

2. Does the Presidency intend to inform Parliament well in advance of the 33rd ICAO General Meeting of what the EU contribution will be? If so, when and how?

3. Does the Presidency intend to inform Parliament on conclusion of the 33rd ICAO General Meeting of the outcome of that event? If so, when and how?

(1) COM(2000) 110 C5-0207/2000 2000/2114(COS).

Reply

(6 December 2001)

1. The Council would remind the Honourable Members of Parliament that, at its meeting on 29 June 2000, it endorsed in a general way the Conclusions set out in the Commission Communication on the taxation of aircraft fuel submitted on 3 March 2000, but added the following comments:

- The great majority of delegations thought that, in principle and in terms of the consistency of the taxation scheme, fuel for commercial aviation should be taxed in the same way as any other fuel.

- However, consideration should be given to the question of competition with third countries and any distortion of competition with socio-economic consequences should be avoided; a unilateral measure by the European Community introducing taxation would not be desirable.

- In the circumstances it was thought that the strategy to be followed should be to transfer discussion of this matter to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

- The Council also considered that other fiscal measures or other technological solutions could be envisaged to reduce CO2 emissions; it noted that the Commission was prepared to examine such measures.

2. Concerning the Boeing Sonic-Cruiser, the Honourable Parliamentarians will probably understand that it is premature for the European Union to take a position on a plane that is still at an early design stage. However, the environmental concerns of the EU are well known to the aeronautical industry throughout the world and in particular to Boeing, a company that is very well acquainted with the European market and its regulatory environment.

3. The European Community and its Member States have submitted, for debate at the 33rd International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Assembly, a working document containing recommendations on a strategy for the development of market-based measures in order to reduce emissions from aviation. The ICAO Assembly will be invited to recognise the work already done in the field of market-based measures and reaffirm the importance of continuing to pursue and finalise work on guidance to be given to States on emission-related levies (such as fuel taxes and emissions charges), including measures that clarify that environmental costs may be internalised.

4. The European Parliament will be informed before and after the 33rd ICAO Assembly through the regular institutional mechanisms provided to that effect.