Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-12-13-Speech-3-186"
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"en.20001213.7.3-186"2
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"Mr President, I wish to address my concerns this afternoon to the proposed taxation on aircraft fuel. Whilst there is recognition in this report that a kerosene tax cannot be imposed internationally due to the exemption in the Chicago Convention, nevertheless the introduction of such a tax, intra-EU or bilaterally, would be severely damaging to the United Kingdom and the entire European aviation industry. Not only would our air fares increase dramatically – possibly by £80 per ticket, thereby threatening the very existence of the smaller carriers – but the damage would also affect the aerospace manufacturers, tourism, businesses and, of course, the freight carriers – they now carry a third of freight world-wide by air.
It is not true to say that aviation does not bear its costs. In fact, the industry pays 100% of its infrastructure costs through air traffic control and airport charges, amounting to US $4bn in 1998 – unlike other modes of transport, such as rail and road, which are still heavily subsidised. These facts must be recognised. In addition, to impose this tax would bring little benefit to the environment, as was proven by the introduction of the air passenger duty tax in the United Kingdom. Aviation is in fact responsible for 2.5% of CO2 emissions world wide. Other approaches, such as trading and offsets, could be more environmentally-friendly and cost- effective.
Finally, such measures would ruin the competitiveness of the European industry
the rest of the world and would also cause massive job losses. So I, for one, will continue to speak up for an industry which is often singled out as the big bad wolf. This report is badly crafted on the part of the Commission and this Parliament. The public at large deserves better."@en1
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