Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a Council Directive on the limitation of the emission of oxides of nitrogen from civil subsonic jet aeroplanes'
Date: 1998-04-29
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: air quality, aircraft, common transport policy, environmental protection

10.7.98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 214/9

3.9. Article 2

3.9.1.
This proposal is under the cooperation pro-
cedure which is always lengthy and where the total

timing is unpredictable. [January 1998] therefore must
be replaced by:

‘x months after adoption of the directive’.

Brussels, 29 April 1998.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Tom JENKINS

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Council Directive on
the limitation of the emission of oxides of nitrogen from civil subsonic jet aeroplanes’

(98/C 214/03)

On 13 February 1998 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under
Article 84(2) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned
proposal.

The Section for Protection of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Affairs, which
was responsible for preparing the Committee’s work on the subject, adopted its opinion on
31 March 1998. The rapporteur was Mr Gafo Ferna´ndez and the co-rapporteurs were Mrs
Ström and Mr Tsirimokos.

At its 354th plenary session (meeting of 29 April 1998) the Economic and Social Committee
adopted the following opinion by 119 votes to 2 with 2 abstentions.

1.

Introduction

1.1.
The aim of this proposal for a directive is to slow
down the rate of increase in NOx emissions from
subsonic jet aircraft; it endeavours to offset the projected
rapid growth in air traffic over the coming years by
improving the emission efficiency of new engines on
aircraft operating in the EU.

1.2.
To this end, new NOx emission limits are laid
down for engines, based on two different levels of thrust.
At the same time it is prohibited to register aircraft in
the Member States with engines which do not meet the
directive’s requirements.

1.3.
To give engine manufacturers and airlines suf-
ficient time to implement these provisions, two reference
dates are laid down. The first, 31 December 1999, is the
deadline for new engine models to comply with these
new limitations; the second, 31 December 2007, is the
cut-off date for the installation in aircraft of engines
whose first model was manufactured before the entry
into force of this directive.

The above-mentioned ban applies only to aircraft
1.4.
registered in an EU country so as not to affect the
operation of aircraft registered in third countries overfly-
ing or landing in the EU.

The proposal

1.5.
incorporates and supports the
resolution of the third meeting of the Committee on
Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP/3), which is
part of the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO).

2. General comments

The Committee approves the proposed directive
2.1.
which should help to improve the environment as
regards both the formation of ozone in the upper
troposphere and the reduction of greenhouse gas emis-
sions (effect of N2O).

2.2.
Precisely because of the greenhouse effect of the
N2O, the Committee feels a mention should be made of
the contribution which this measure will make to
meeting the commitments entered into at the Kyoto
Conference.

C 214/10

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10.7.98

2.3. While it realizes that Treaty Article 84 is the
traditional basis of the EU’s transport policy, the
Committee would also have liked to see an additional
reference to Article 130s since the ultimate objective of
this directive is to protect the environment.

2.4.
Furthermore, the Committee would have wel-
comed a fuller reference in the preamble to how it relates
to Directive 92/14/EEC (reduction of aircraft noise).

3. Specific comments

The Committee proposes inserting the following

3.1.
new recital:

‘Whereas this measure will help to reduce greenhouse
gases, which is one of the objectives of the agreement
reached in Kyoto on the basis of a high level
of environmental protection as provided for in
Article 130s of the Treaty, and whereas the proposal
will also contribute to the adoption of this binding
measure by the ICAO;’

The Committee proposes inserting the following

3.2.
new recital:

2.5.
Finally, the Committee considers that the pre-
amble to the directive should refer explicitly to its
application in the countries of the European Economic
Area and the countries applying for EU membership.

‘Whereas this directive should be implemented as
soon as possible both by the countries of the
European Economic Area and the countries applying
for membership of the European Union;’.

Brussels, 29 April 1998.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Tom JENKINS