Euro-MP calls on Blair to stand up to Bush

1.42.25pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 16th Sep 2004

Euro-MPs meeting in Strasbourg today (Thursday) called on Tony Blair to challenge a US bid aimed at preventing the EU introducing financial measures to make the airline industry pay for damage it causes to the environment.

The European Commission says that pressure from the United States is behind moves within the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to prohibit the inclusion of aircraft within the EU emissions trading scheme

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne has opposed the expansions to Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton airports, which would mean a dramatic increase in air traffic throughout the region over the next 30 years. Aviation is expected to produce one quarter of all Britain's global warming emissions by 2030, as the number of passengers using the country's airports increases from 200 to 500 million.

On Tuesday the Prime Minister announced that Britain would take the lead when it holds the EU Presidency next year in trying to gain support from member states to extend Europe's emissions trading scheme to aviation. Officials have not ruled out the possibility also of supporting a tax on flights that could add £10 to the cost of each single journey.

The action would set him on a collision course with President Bush if he retains control of the White House in November. US airlines operate more than one third of all the world's flights.

Today the European Parliament backed a call for ICAO to reject the US position, which MEPs say will undermine the organisation's credibility in the emissions field.

The Liberal Democrat MEP, said:

"I have been campaigning for sometime for airlines to pay the true cost of the damage they cause to the environment by demanding aviation fuel be taxed and subject to the Kyoto protocol.

"This is the chance for Tony Blair to put some 'air miles' between himself and President Bush, and prove that his fine words about climate change have real substance.

"The EU must be equipped with all the tools necessary to fight global warming. It's bad that President Bush will not take action himself but we cannot allow him also to sabotage our efforts."

ENDS