Carbon tax: Brussels would be willing to make concessions

The European Union (EU) is ready to reduce its tax system on CO2 emissions in air transportation provided that the other regions are committed to implement a similar system in 2016, according to a document AFP has obtained.

Brussels should present this document to the next general meeting of the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), which will open on September 24 in Montreal. In this document, it is stated that the tax introduced by the EU concern that part of the journey performed over European airspace, and not the whole journey. But "we need in exchange, other regions formally undertake during the next meeting of the ICAO to introduce a similar tax in the European tax in their areas by 2016," said the source close to the negotiations. "The goal is to achieve a global system for CO2 reduction for the airline industry in 2020"

Implemented by the EU in January 2012 to fight against global warming, the carbon tax imposed on airlines to pay the equivalent of 15% of CO2 emissions from their aircraft, or 32 million tons. But the face of strong resistance from some countries like the United States and China, threatening to boycott Airbus in retaliation measure was frozen at 30