Brussels, 01/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Transport Council is expected to formalise last June's compromise between the European Parliament, Council and Commission on the draft directive to include national and international civil aviation in the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS: EUROPE 9692) by 2012. According to the draft conclusions, which are due to be adopted on 9 October in Luxembourg, the Council considers that this measure will allow for “much greater environmental efficiency than a fuel tax” and is fully justified by continued growth in the aviation sector, despite the unfavourable economic situation linked to rising fuel prices. The Council, however, stressed that the directive in question “is only a first step towards the final goal” of international air transport integration into “a global market for emissions trading at an ICAO level (International Civil Aviation Organization). If needs be, the directive could therefore be amended. According to the same draft conclusions, the Council is also expected to confirm its determination to reach a reduction in aviation sector emissions through other measures, especially modernisation of air traffic control (EUROPE 9690) and stepping up aeronautical research. The SESAR programme (technical chapter of the Single Sky programme) is also intended to help develop the new European air traffic control system and the Clean Sky programme aims to develop new aviation technologies that respect European commitments on reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The same Transport Council is also expected to come up with a general orientation on the draft regulation to set up a joint enterprise with (SESAR) Single European Sky ATM Research in charge of the implementation of the programme, and adopt a resolution activating the development phase (EUROPE 9690). (A.By/transl.rh)