WRITTEN QUESTION E-1988/01 by Dorette Corbey (PSE) and Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Commission. 33rd ICAO General Meeting (25 September - 5 October 2001).
Date: 2001-07-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, aviation fuel, environmental standard, environmental tax, fuel tax, reduction of gas emissions

C 40 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.2.2002

(2002/C 40 E/168)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1988/01

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

(6 July 2001)

Subject: 33rd ICAO General Meeting (25 September (cid:129) 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 (cid:129) 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 Commission 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 Commission intend to inform Parliament well
Meeting of what the EU contribution will be? If so, when and how?

in advance of the 33rd ICAO General

Does the Commission intend to inform Parliament on conclusion of the 33rd ICAO General Meeting

3.
of the outcome of that event? If so, when and how?

(1) COM(2000) 110 (cid:129) C5-0207/2000 (cid:129) 2000/2114(COS).

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 September 2001)

The Belgian Presidency will present papers at the 33rd General Assembly of the International civil aviation
organisation (ICAO) on a wide range of issues on behalf of the Community and its Member States. On
environmental protection (Agenda Item 14), it will present papers on aircraft noise, aircraft emissions and
market-based measures.

it will encourage the development for international aviation of practical
On market-based measures,
guidance for the implementation in the shorter term, of mechanisms such as voluntary agreements,
aviation fuel taxes, and emissions related charges and in the longer term of an open emissions trading
programme compatible with the principles of the Kyoto Protocol. The Commission will continue to
contribute to the work of ICAO and will also work with the Member States and the European Parliament
to develop policies and measures at European level as appropriate.

The proposal by Boeing to develop the Sonic Cruiser highlights the importance of setting environmental
standards and economic incentives for European and world-wide implementation in order to promote the
development of more fuel-efficient aircraft.

The Commission outlined, in its declaration at the plenary session of the European Parliament on 2 July
2001,
its position for the forthcoming ICAO Assembly. The papers mentioned above will be made
available to the Parliament as soon as they have been endorsed by the Council and submitted to ICAO.

The Commission will inform the Parliament of the outcome of the General Assembly, in any possible way
requested by the competent parliamentary bodies.