Slovenian EU presidency praised for striking ETS deal

Slovenia has been praised for helping to broker a deal on the EU’s emissions trading scheme.

Agreement to include greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft in the ETS was reached at a meeting of EU diplomats on Friday.

German centre-right MEP Peter Liese, parliament’s rapporteur on the proposals, said Slovenia had to overcome widespread opposition to the plan from the majority of member states.

The move was one of Slovenia's last acts before it handed over the EU presidency to France this week.

Speaking at a press conference in parliament on Wednesday, Liese said, “Slovenia did a very good job because there was a lot of opposition to overcome.”

“It is a done deal with the council and I am confident that parliament’s political groups will support the package when we vote on it next week in Strasbourg.”

He admitted the agreement amounted to a “compromise” but that it was still a “significant improvement” on the European commission’s original proposals.

He said he was “particularly pleased” that aircraft carrying government ministers and officials will be included in the scheme.

“Originally, these would have been exempt but, now, they will have to comply with the rules like everyone else,” he said.

Under the deal, all flights starting and landing in Europe will be included in the ETS from 2012, with the exception of research flights and flights from small businesses producing few emissions.

There is an overall target to cut airline emissions by three per cent after 2012, and by five per cent from 2013 onwards.

The ETS places a limit on the amount of pollution that companies can emit and offers businesses emissions allowances that can then be bought and sold as needed.

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