Brussels, 15/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - The regulation amending the directive on the emissions quotas trading system of the EU (2003/87/EC) in order to take account of the international negotiations in the framework of ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) has been adopted. The Council formally adopted the text without debate on 14 April. The Parliament had earlier, on 3 April, approved the compromise negotiated with the Council in the hope of facilitating an agreement at ICAO - to be concluded in 2016 and to enter into force in 2020 - on a global market mechanism to reduce emissions from international aviation (see EUROPE 11054 and 11053).
Under the new regulation, the ETS directive will apply within the European Economic Area until the end of 2016 and will extend the derogation to the ETS directive for long haul flights until that date. A re-examination will take place immediately after the ICAO Assembly meeting of September 2016.
The European Commission will present the Parliament and the Council with a full report on the next stages, including, if necessary, proposals to adjust the scope of application of the directive beyond the EEA, in the event that an agreement at ICAO should be deemed insufficient. The regulation will apply from the time of its adoption. The initial temporary one-year exemption for inter-continental flights (the so-called “stop the clock” decision) expires this month. (AN)