Brussels, 28/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - Whatever they call it - a “trade war” (Peter Van Dalen - ECR, Netherlands), a “vicious circle” (Christine de Veyrac - EPP, France), a “dramatic situation” (Brian Simpson - S&D, UK), or quite simply a “mess” (Jacqueline Foster - ECR, UK) - MEPs from the parliamentary committee on transport and tourism (TRAN) did not beat about the bush when it came to describing a situation in which the European emissions quota trading system (ETS) is entangled. The ETS is a system that has been applied to aviation since 1 January, despite the third countries that do not wish to submit to it.
On Tuesday 28 February, during an exchange of views with Jos Delbecke, Director General for DG Climate Action at the European Commission, MEPs divided over how to react to the bloc of “anti-ETS” countries meeting in Moscow last week (see EUROPE 10559) were nonetheless unanimous in saying that the moment was grave. “It is not just aviation but the whole supply chain that is affected”, warned Jacqueline Foster. Brian Simpson, who chairs the transport committee, bemoaned the fact that they were at a crossroads and that the EU can neither turn round nor give up. “We are close to a trade war and we are putting our heads in the sand”, he said.
Issue referred to ICAO, and to co-decision. Gésine Meissner (ALDE, Germany) summed up the situation, acknowledging the concern expressed by MEPs and insisting that “bridges” be built to find a solution. MEPs wish to avoid a trade war and urge the Commission to take action. The latter seeks to be reassuring and draws to MEPs' attention the fact that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) can play a major role. Jos Delbeke said that one can prevent a trade war by speeding up discussions within ICAO. He added that one must stick to Plan A, the only thing that will make ICAO budge, and that they have every hope this will lead to the right outcome. However, for Philip Bradbourn (ECR, UK), the “first reasonable measure would be to postpone the legislation”. Moving on to Plan B if no equivalence can be found at IACO would require “amendments to our legislation, through co-decision, and we would have to move fast”, Delbeke put in. He underlined the fact that not everything is in the Commission's hands, saying by way of conclusion: “Legislation agreed in co-decision can only be amended by co-decision.” (MD/transl.jl)