The EU Environment Council has supported the Canarian exceptions to emissions trading in air and sea transport until 2030.
The proposal, defended by the Spanish Government and supported by Portugal, thus improves previous drafts of the agreement and clears the way for its negotiation in the EU institutions, clarified to a large extent by the approval in the European Parliament of an amendment presented by the socialist MEP Juan Fernando López Aguilar.
The revision of the application scheme of the package of measures known as Objective 55 approved last Wednesday by the Council specifies the exceptionality of all inter-island flights of emissions trading until 2030, without the need for the routes to have the condition of Public Service Obligations (PSO). Similarly, the exceptionality for maritime transport activities between the ports of the ORs and their respective member states is included, as agreed at the last Transport Council.
The Canarian Vice-President for European Affairs, Román Rodríguez, has insisted that the Canary Islands share the European objective for the reduction of CO2 emissions, but that the islands need in this aspect a modulation of the norm, depending on their island condition and their absolute dependence on air and sea transport.
"We need mobility in ships and airplanes for the movement of people and goods between our island territories and with the rest of the world. The opposite would condemn us to complete isolation and greater poverty," he said, but also insisted that the Canary Islands will have to demonstrate their commitment internally to decarbonisation and the fight against climate change.
Next steps
Negotiations with the European Parliament will begin this Wednesday in order to reach a definitive agreement between both institutions, with the participation of the European Commission.
In this tripartite conciliation process, known as a trilogue, the outgoing presidency (France), the incoming presidency (Czech Republic) and the next presidency (Sweden) will negotiate on behalf of the Council. The Parliament's negotiating team will consist of the chairman of the ENVI committee, responsible for the Environment; the rapporteurs of the reports on the various legislative initiatives and other MEPs.
During the tripartite dialogues, the Council and the European Parliament will present their position and exchange views, while the European Commission will play the role of mediator, with a view to facilitating an agreement between the co-legislators.
