FINNS UNDECIDED ON EU AVIATION EMISSIONS

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000085 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON SENV EUN FI SUBJECT: FINNS UNDECIDED ON EU AVIATION EMISSIONS PROPOSAL REF: STATE 04858 ¶1. (SBU) The Finnish government has yet to form an official position on the recent EU aviation emissions proposal, according to Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications officials Anne Torkkeli and Topi Siren on February 1. Although Finland believes aviation emissions should be addressed, it is in the process of examining all options before taking an official position. The Finnish interagency taskforce assigned to this issue (from the Ministries of Transport and Communications, Environment, and Foreign Affairs) wants to review results of the upcoming meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) before finalizing a decision. Additionally, the GOF has requested the EU Councils Legal Services to provide clarification on ICAO's legal position regarding aviation emissions. ¶2. (SBU) Finnish officials have internally discussed the issue, using 2012 and the post-Kyoto period as a natural timeframe for initiating a more concrete program for all emissions, including aviation. They also noted that due to Finland's isolated geography, aviation plays a key role in connecting Finland to Europe. Finland does not want to see any EU policy that would discriminate against it by making air travel considerably more difficult or expensive. HYATT