Green MEPs call for EU air fuel tax

Aviation fuel must be taxed on all flights within the EU, Green MEPs are urging.

“We must abolish the privileges given to air transport,” Austrian Green MEP Eva Lichtenberger said at a press conference at the European parliament on Friday.

The MEPs say a tax of €0.30 per litre would increase air fares by just a few euros but generate revenue of around €13.6bn per year.

The green deputies appealed for “climate-friendly transport” ahead of this year's mobility week event.

The event, first launched in 2002, is an EU-wide initiative aiming to promote alternative transport – this year, it will focus on controlling climate change.

Transport, which is by far the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions, now accounts for almost 30 per cent of the EU’s CO2 emissions.

It is also responsible for 70 per cent of the EU’s annual oil consumption.

“The growth in transport emissions risks undercutting progress made in other areas towards reducing our emissions and meeting our commitments under the Kyoto Protocol,” argued German MEP Michael Cramer.

In their appeal, the Green MEPs note that air and sea transport have so far been exempted from any obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions since they are not covered by the Kyoto Protocol.

“All transport operations – especially air and sea transport – must be included in CO2 emissions trading under Kyoto II to rectify this omission,” the Greens’ position paper states.

The MEPs also argue that we need to drastically reduce traffic in the EU by shifting to rail, inland navigation and coastal shipping.

They are calling for a binding EU-wide ceiling on the total volume of CO2 emissions from road traffic, and for a five per cent yearly increase on the minimum excise duty on fuels.

“Without a change in policy, the EU will not achieve the Kyoto objectives it has committed to,” concluded Cramer.

So far, the European commission has shied away from introducing an EU-wide tax on air fuel, which is opposed by the industry.

A 2003 EU directive already allows the member states to levy a tax on aviation fuel – but so far, the Netherlands is the only country to have introduced this.

Meanwhile, seven Green MEPs have announced that they will cycle to Strasbourg with Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx for the European parliament’s next session, which kicks off on September 25.

Commission vice-president Siim Kallas and environment commissioner Stavros Dimas have also written a letter to commission staff encouraging them to cycle to work during mobility week.

As for Dimas himself, his spokeswoman said she was not aware of his transportation plans for the week, but added that “I know he likes walking”.

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