On October 2, the Environment Committee voted to back a tighter emissions cap, thereby strengthening EC proposals to bring airlines into the EU’s carbon emission trading scheme (ETS). Prior to the vote there had been a failure to achieve consensus on key issues such as allowance distribution and the cap itself.

The committee recommends that airlines, upon joining the EU ETS, should cap their emissions at 75 percent of average levels during 2004–6. Rapporteur MEP Peter Liese, who had proposed a 90 percent cap, opined following the vote that 75 percent is “not feasible technically” and threatens the competitiveness of EU airlines. The EC, meanwhile, had proposed a 100 percent cap.

MEPs confirmed their support for the aviation sector’s inclusion in the ETS from 2010, while industry groups expressed derision over the vote.