The EPP group has stated that there is no question of granting British businesses any favours or competitive advantage in climate policy in the event of negotiations breaking down on the United Kingdom leaving the EU. This was made quite clear by the German MEP, Peter Liese, speaking on behalf of the EPP group ahead of the debate due to take place on Monday evening in Strasbourg on extending ETS exemptions for long haul flights (see EUROPE 11827).
In a press release, Mr Liese stated, “In a case of failure of the negotiations on a Brexit agreement, the British industry should not have an undue advantage and European competitors should not have an undue disadvantage. Allowances given to UK companies free should not be valid in the EU-ETS if those companies don`t have any more obligations under the ETS”.
His group will be submitting an amendment in view of the vote planned on Wednesday 13 September for a draft resolution on aviation in the ETS. Mr Liese added that, “I really hope that the United Kingdom will ultimately stay in the ETS”.
The text prepared by British Conservative, Julie Girling, will be submitted to the plenary and involves the continuation of the ETS derogation for intercontinental flights until 2020, whilst waiting for the EU to prepare implementation of the CORSIA, the market measure agreed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to tackle CO2 emissions from this sector. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)