CZECH REPUBLIC: NO STRONG POSITION ON EU DECISION

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001528 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE ERIC FICHTE, EB/TRA/AN COMMERCE FOR ITA/MAC/EUR MIKE ROGERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON SENV EUN EZ SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: NO STRONG POSITION ON EU DECISION TO CONTROL EMISSIONS ON NON-EU AIR CARRIERS REF: STATE 190254 ¶1. In response to reftel, Ministry of the Environment Department of Climatic Changes Specialist Dr. Jiri Dobiasovsky said that while the government has not indicated an official opinion on the latest EC decision to include international aviation emissions from non-EU air carriers in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS),in May 2006 the Environment Ministry opposed this scheme because aviation emissions is not a part of the Kyoto Protocol, would be administratively difficult, and member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) should decide the issue. The Ministry of Environment has the lead on all emissions issues, but consults closely with the Ministry of Transportation. ¶2. Ministry of Transportation Civil Aviation Department Director Jaromir Stolc said his ministry is also against including aviation emissions from non-EU carriers into ETS and favors working through the ICAO, rather than the EU developing a policy unilaterally. While the GOCR's view seems to align with the USG's view, the Czechs do not seem inclined to press the EU on this issue. MUNTER