EUROPE —The European Parliament voted Sep. 13 to extend the exemption of airlines from the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme for intercontinental flights — an arrangement known as “stop the clock” — but only until 2020 (JFI Jul.17’17). The European Commission had wanted a simple extension, pending the introduction of a new global program being designed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that will take effect on a voluntary basis from 2021. Member of the European Parliament Julie Girling, who proposed the time limit on the legislation said, “It is sensible that we extend the exemption for international flights to and from the EU until there is greater clarity on the ICAO scheme. However, unlike the European Commission, I believe this exemption must be time limited.” Airline lobby group Airlines4Europe has warned that the potential coexis- tence of two systems puts European carriers at a global disad- vantage and urged the European Parliament to keep the clock stopped “without delay or additional conditions.”
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