Fearing being faced with a fait accompli if the implementation of the CORSIA system of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as of January 1, 2021, amounts to weakening the emission trading system (ETS) of the EU, the deputies of the 'Environment' committee of the European Parliament were not reassured by the Transport Commissioner, Adina Vălean, Monday May 11 (see EUROPE 12449/26, 12333/5).
"We are concerned about what might be the outcome of the work of your DG (Transportation Directorate General: editor’s note). We do not want to give in on our ability to legislate when we implement CORSIA", said Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe, France), who had written to the Commissioner on the subject.
"Let no one force us to weaken HTA!", Peter Liese (EPP, Germany), who was rapporteur for ETS aviation, added that Parliament had always been sceptical of CORSIA.
The Commissioner assured that the implementation of the international aviation CO2 offsetting scheme "will not change the EU's climate ambition", but she used legal language, referring MEPs to the Lisbon Treaty, which "for an EU position, gives Parliament the right to be informed, not consulted".
CORSIA will be implemented by the EU from the start of its pilot phase by means of an amendment to the ETS Directive, after an impact assessment.
The co-legislators are responsible for this amendment on the basis of a Commission proposal. "There is no doubt; you are fully involved in the legislative process, but Member States must notify ICAO by June 2020 if they intend to participate in the voluntary phase. This is based on a Council decision", the Commissioner recalled. She assured MEPs that "Parliament will be informed immediately and fully at all stages of the procedure".
She added that if the EU were to abandon CORSIA, it would be a pretext for major global players to bury this global market measure, which would cause many years of delay in the ICAO negotiations.
"What independence will there be for HTA, will there be a text on that?” Jytte Guteland (S&D, Sweden), rapporteur for the "climate law" on climate neutrality by 2050 (see EUROPE 12483/11), expressed in alarm.
"We are going to start the impact assessment to look at the different implementation options, I can't tell you which option will be chosen", replied Adina Vălean.
Will it be made clear in the formal decision that this is only a temporary solution? This question by Mrs Guteland and Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA, Netherlands) has remained unanswered.
According to Ms Vălean, CORSIA does not endanger HTA. "This is the only way to cover emissions not covered by the Paris Agreement and by the ETS Directive, which only covers flights departing from and arriving in the European Economic Area". (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)