MEPs call on Blair to stand up to Bush

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 16th Sep 2004

Euro-MPs meeting in Strasbourg today (Thursday) will call on Tony Blair to challenge a US bid aimed at preventing the EU introducing financial measures to make the airline industry pay for damage it causes to the environment.

The European Commission says that pressure from the United States is behind moves within the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to prohibit the inclusion of levies based on aircraft emissions.

Aviation is expected to produce one quarter of all Britain's global warming emissions by 2030, as the number of passengers using the country's airports increases from 200 to 500 million over the next 30 years. Air traffic from South West airports is expected to grow significantly during this period.

On Tuesday the Prime Minister announced that Britain would take the lead when it holds the EU Presidency next year in trying to gain support from member states to extend Europe's emissions trading scheme to aviation. The Government has not ruled out the possibility also of supporting a tax on flights that some say could add £10 to the cost of each single journey.

The action would set him on a collision course with President Bush if he retains control of the White House in November. US airlines operate more than one third of all the world's flights. Today the European Parliament is expected to back a call for ICAO to reject the US position which MEPs say will undermine the organisation's credibility in the emissions field.

Graham Watson, the South West Lib Dem Euro MP said:

"This is the chance for Tony Blair to put some 'air miles' between himself and President Bush, and prove that his fine words about climate change have real substance."

"The EU must be equipped with all the tools necessary to fight global warming. It's bad that President Bush will not take action himself but we cannot allow him also to sabotage our efforts."