Fri, Dec 23, 2011
Says European Court Decision "Isolates The EU From The Rest Of
The World"
Airline industry organization Airlines for America (A4A) says it
will continue to oppose the unilateral imposition of a carbon
cap-and-trade scheme on U.S. carriers by the European Union. The
European Court of Justice ruled Wednesday that the EU could go
forward with its plan to tax all air carriers regardless of country
of origin in an effort to reduce carbon emissions.
"Today's (Wednesday's) court decision further isolates the EU
from the rest of the world and will keep in place a unilateral
scheme that is counterproductive to concerted global action on
aviation and climate change," A4A said in a statement. "The court
did not fully address legal issues raised and has established a
damaging and questionable precedent by ruling that the European
Union can ignore the Chicago Convention and other longstanding
international provisions that have enabled governments around the
world to work cooperatively to make flying safer and more secure,
and to reduce aviation's environmental footprint.
"(The) decision does not mark the end of this case and Airlines
for America (A4A) is reviewing options to pursue in the English
High Court. At the same time, the U.S. government and dozens of
others around the world are increasing pressure on the EU to come
back to the table to consider a global sectoral approach. In the
meantime, A4A members will comply under protest and will continue
to operate safely and efficiently to Europe when the scheme takes
effect January 1."
A4A, formerly known as the Air Transport Association, which
brought the legal action in 2009 on behalf of all of its members,
said in its argument that aviation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
should be regulated on a global sectoral basis. A4A also opposes
the application of the EU ETS to U.S. airlines, as it imposes an
exorbitant tax that takes away from aviation the very funds it
needs to continue to invest in aircraft technology, sustainable
alternative fuels and infrastructure advances to build on its
strong record of fuel efficiency improvements and emissions
savings.
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