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