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PRESS INVITATION: Our Future Mobility Now

 Selected Event
ACEA - European Automobile Manufacturers Association PRESS INVITATION: Our Future Mobility Now

France urges EU 'rapid action' in air carbon row

France urges EU 'rapid action' in air carbon row

Thu, 2011-06-09 08:51

From 1 January next year, the EU's flagship Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will be expanded to include carbon emissions from all planes passing through European airspace. 

But US airlines are challenging the move in the courts and China has threatened to retaliate against French planemaker Airbus if its airlines are forced to participate in the ETS.

The French government has sent Brussels a letter demanding "rapid action" to protect the integrity of the EU's carbon market from countries such as China, which is demanding exemptions for its airlines.

EU official documents

Governments

Press articles

No

EU to start taxing road freight to contain pollution

EU to start taxing road freight to contain pollution

Wed, 2011-06-08 08:39

The European Parliament yesterday (7 June) endorsed a compromise deal on the revision of Eurovignette Directive, finalised at the end of May after trialogue discussions between the Parliament, the Council and the European Commission.

EU member states have been given final approval to start applying the 'polluter-pays' principle when setting road tolls for heavy goods vehicles. But the freight sector is complaining of an additional burden as countries are not obliged to reinvest the tax revenues in greening road transport.

EU official documents

European Union

Parliament

Political Groups

Industry federations and trade unions

NGOs and Think-Tanks

Press articles

No

Paris and Berlin blink in aviation carbon row

Paris and Berlin blink in aviation carbon row

Tue, 2011-06-07 09:48

"We've received letters from at least the French and German governments," one official told EurActiv.

"It's been known since the measure was adopted that this was controversial. Now we're nearing the 1 January deadline, it's clear that there is some nervousness."

From the start of next year, the EU plans to make all airlines using European airports pay for their carbon pollution under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). 

Germany and France have both complained to Brussels about an escalating row over bringing foreign airlines into the EU's cap-and-trade scheme. Diplomats say Berlin will not rule out a challenge to the flagship EU legislation involved.

EU official documents

No

The EU will lead the world towards lower C02 emissions from aviation

The EU will lead the world towards lower C02 emissions from aviation

Mon, 2011-06-06 11:35

Including aviation in the EU's emissions trading scheme does not violate international trade law and will in fact pave the way for other nations to develop their own emissions trading systems, argues Eberhard Rhein.

Eberhard Rhein is a former senior European Commission official for external relations and a lecturer on economic policy at the Mediterranean Academy for Diplomatic Studies in Malta.

This commentary was first published on blogactiv.eu.

Person
Eberhard
Rhein
Former senior official
European Commission
No

Safety Challenge 2011

 Selected Event
FIA Brussels Safety Challenge 2011

Europe on alert for Icelandic volcano ash cloud

Europe on alert for Icelandic volcano ash cloud

Tue, 2011-05-24 10:39

Britain's Met Office is predicting the plume of ash from the Grimsvötn volcano would cover the Irish Republic, Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of northern Britain by 0600 GMT.

US President Barack Obama was due to fly into Britain on Tuesday from Ireland for a state visit, but was forced to change those plans and instead flew into London late last night.

Britain said flights could be disrupted from parts of the country today (24 May) by an ash cloud billowing from an Icelandic volcano, but said it did not expect a repeat of last year's travel chaos.

Press articles

No

solar plane night

solar plane night

Fri, 2011-05-20 12:38

Zero emission-branded electric cars 'misleading': Consumers [fr]

Zero emission-branded electric cars 'misleading': Consumers

Fri, 2011-05-20 08:50

EU policymakers are pushing to boost the take-up of electric vehicles across the European Union as a crucial means of reducing the bloc's CO2 emissions,

Indeed, back in 2008, the EU earmarked €5 billion in its economic recovery plan for the Green Car Initiative as part of a wider package of public support for the industry.

More transparency for consumers on the benefits of electric vehicles is urgently required, said Europe's biggest motoring consumer group yesterday (19 May).

Press articles

No

All sides claim victory in WTO Airbus ruling

All sides claim victory in WTO Airbus ruling

Thu, 2011-05-19 11:17

Upholding a European appeal, World Trade Organisation judges agreed government loans to help Airbus develop the world's largest jetliner, the A380, had not broken a ban on export subsidies, the most severe category of market-distorting aid.

However, US officials said the WTO backed complaints that Europe's aircraft giant had received $18 billion of softer subsidies that still unfairly hit Boeing and its workers.

It gave the European Union six months to withdraw the subsidies or eliminate their effects, US officials said.

Trade judges on Wednesday (18 May) partially overturned a ruling that had accused EU states of giving Airbus illegal subsidies, but said the aircraft maker did receive billions of dollars of unfair aid that harmed Boeing.

European Union

Business & Industry

No

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