Brussels, 13/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - Addressing the aviation community in Asia-Pacific, European Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas had to face many questions regarding the European system of emissions credits, at the Aviation Leadership summit in Singapore on Monday 13 February. The European directive, which has been applied to aviation for the last two months, has come in for harsh criticism internationally. Kallas said that he wished to reach a solution which is acceptable to all, multilaterally and via the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
In Singapore, the European commissioner said that the environment, like safety and security, was one of the three major challenges facing aviation in which Europe intended to play a lead role. “It is important to find sustainable ways of maintaining growth in aviation. As air travel becomes cheaper, emissions from world aviation are increasing fast.” He said that he was prepared to fight on this issue: “since these are challenges faced by the entire aviation community, international cooperation is essential. Let me say one thing very clearly on the famous question of ETS: this issue must be tackled, and solved, in ICAO. Of course, Europe wants to see a multilateral solution. And we are ready to battle for that outcome.”
In order to meet this challenge and others, the commissioner is firmly opposed to any kind of protectionism, pointing out how important it is for the markets to remain open, particularly in so globalised a market as aviation. In his view, there is no question of using national restrictions, artificial national air blocs, distortions of competition.
He concluded by stating that he wished to build a bridge between the EU and ASEAN and explore the possibility of an agreement between the two blocs, with ASEAN intending to build its own single regional airspace in 2015. (MD/transl.fl)