Brussels, 24/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European directive which, from 2012, will see civil aviation included in the Community greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme (ETS) has been formally adopted. This text (Directive 2003/87/EC), adopted without debate by the Council on 24 October, will require the sector, which had not been included in the Kyoto Protocol, to contribute to efforts to combat climate change. It will cover all flights to or from EU airports. In 2012, it will impose a 3% reduction of historical emissions (average emissions during the period from 2004 to 2006) on the sector, and then, from 2013, the sector will have to reduce emissions by 5% annually.
85% of the annual allowances will be allocated free of charge, while the remaining 15% will be put up for auction. A special reserve of 3% of all allowances will be for new entrants and rapidly expanding aircraft operators. It will be up to member states to decide how to use the revenue from the auctions. Proceeds should be used to tackle climate change in the UE or in a third country. Failure to comply with the system could result, in the last resort and at the request of a member state, in an aircraft operator being banned from operating in the EU. In second reading, the Council accepted all the European Parliament's amendments (see EUROPE 9699). The text of the agreement was confirmed by the last Transport Council (see EUROPE 9758). (A.N./transl.rt)