The Council Of The European Union Adopts Decision On Temporary Derogation From The EU Emissions Trading System Directive

The Council adopted¹ today a decision derogating temporarily from directive 2003/87/EC establishing the EU scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading (11/13,8352/13 ADD1, 8352/13 ADD2).

The decision intends to reinforce the positive momentum within the International Civil Aviation Organisation towards a global market-based approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation sector.

The decision temporarily defers enforcement of the obligations of aircraft operators in respect of incoming and outgoing international flights under the EU emissions trading system for 2012. It will temporarily exempt airlines from the ETS requirement to report carbon emissions for flights between EU airports and third countries, and sanctions will not be imposed for failure to report.

The EU/ETS directive will continue to apply in full to intra-EU flights and flights between the EU and a number of closely connected areas and territories.

The decision will enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. It will apply from the date of its adoption.

¹The decision was taken without discussion at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting. It follows an agreement with the European Parliament at first reading.