Europe gives US airlines 'go green' ultimatum - Guardian

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Europe gives US airlines 'go green' ultimatum

Dan Milmo, transport correspondent
guardian.co.uk Friday March 14 2008

US airlines must pay for their carbon dioxide emissions
or face a curb on flights to the European Union, the EU
transport commissioner has warned.

The "go green" ultimatum was issued by Jacques Barrot
as the transatlantic airline market undergoes its biggest
shakeup in 30 years when limits on flights between the
EU and US are lifted this month. Barrot said negotiations
on a second phase for the treaty, will include a demand
that US carriers join the EU emissions trading scheme or
an equivalent system in the US.

He added that requests by Washington for data on
passengers overflying the US are disproportionate and
will not be accepted by the EU, in a warning that
aviation security measures across the Atlantic are
becoming too draconian.

However, the environmental dispute between the EU and
the US administration, which is refusing to let airlines
join a carbon trading scheme, is set to escalate following
Barrot's comments on Open Skies negotiations. Discussions
on a second phase with officials from the US department
of transportation begin in May and Barrot said the EU had
the power to withdraw flying rights if a deal is not reached.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/mar/14/theairlineindustry.carbonemissions

[dipsydoodle]

1. As an aside

the passenger data reference was discussed here. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=3219863 I had a feeling it would come up again in something or other associated. I'd say the EU are as unlikely to back down on the green issue as they have been on the banana war.