EU AVIATION EMISSIONS PROPOSAL NOT TO USG TASTE?

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000183

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2017
TAGS: EAIR ECON GR
SUBJECT: EU AVIATION EMISSIONS PROPOSAL NOT TO USG TASTE?
GREEKS ASK FOR OUR ALTERNATIVE.

REF: A. 06 STATE 190254

B. STATE 4858


1. (SBU) Econcouns and Econoff delivered points from ref(b)
to the Secretary General of Economic Affairs at the MFA, as
well as the Director of International Affairs at the Ministry
of Transportation. The meetings were positive, and the GoG
made no attempt to push back against any of the points
raised. In particular the MinTrans interlocutors were
actively interested in details surrounding the application of
the emissions trading scheme (ETS) to aviation and whether EC
projections were credible. MinTrans officials were
particularly sympathetic to the argument that the EC was
reacting to political pressure with a knee-jerk solution,
rather than addressing the problem in a way designed to
maximize effectiveness while minimizing the economic impact.
Our interlocutors also expressed their continued support for
the work of the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) and its credibility as an international body, but
stressed their growing concern with aviation emissions and
the need for the problem to be addressed soon.


2. (C) The GoG was receptive to USG arguments that ICAO was
a better forum for discussing and resolving aviation
emissions than Brussels. MinTrans officials were also
clearly irritated that the GoG official in charge of the
issue in Brussels is from the Environment ministry, leading
them to humorously suggest that without "adult supervision"
the ultimate solution for aviation emissions by "green types"
would be the banning of all air travel. Pocket-book
arguments also resonated with our interlocutors. With ailing
state-owned Olympic Airlines still trying to survive, the GoG
is likely to be reluctant to agree to any program which will
require an across the board hike in ticket prices, whether
fairly spread throughout the industry or not.


3. (C) Most importantly, however, our interlocutors wanted
to hear specifics about any USG proposal for an ICAO
treatment of aviation emissions. Despite our sympathetic
hearing, it is less likely that the GoG will actively oppose
the EU proposal unless they are comfortable with a USG
alternative for dealing with the issue in ICAO. The Greek
public is generally green on environmental issues (where it
doesn't directly affect their pocketbook, at least),and the
GoG will not want to stand against the EU proposal if they
are not reasonably sure the USG is going to treat the issue
squarely in ICAO.
RIES