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➤ GBTA takes part in EU workshop on environmental label for flights
On the 9th of April, GBTA was invited by the European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to take part in a workshop in Brussels on the development of an environmental labelling scheme for flights. The recently approved ReFuelEU Aviation regulation provides for the creation of such a voluntary scheme for the purposes of enabling consumers to access information on the environmental performance of flights and take decisions based on it. The label should be in place by 2025 and, while it is voluntary at the moment, the Commission may assess whether to make it mandatory in 2027.
The Commission informed that the label will not compare emissions but only show a number of emissions. Aircraft operators will have to pay a charge for the label if they want to opt in and EASA will issue the label based on the information that they share. It will be valid a year at most and will be based on a standardised methodology. The scope is limited to flights departing from the EU.
GBTA shared its feedback with EASA and the Commission, suggesting that the scope of the label should be extended to cover all flights in the EU, that it should be aligned with CountEmissionsEU (an EU regulation aimed at harmonising emission accounting methodologies), that it should clarify how the use of SAF will be verified and accounted for, and that the data on the estimation of flight emissions should be made available.
GBTA has been at the forefront of discussions with European decision-makers to ensure that business travel and its benefits are well understood and accounted for in the EU’s policymaking process ahead of the European elections this June and will continue its advocacy efforts in the next five-year term.
Why it matters: The label should make it easier for business travellers to identify and choose the more sustainable flights. For GBTA, it is essential that the scheme is scientifically sound, creates clarity for passengers and is comprehensive and aligned with other pieces of EU legislation, to prevent inconsistencies.
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➤ GBTA participates in workshop on ETIAS, the EU’s travel authorisation system
Also on the 9th of April, GBTA participated a workshop with the European Commission about the implementation of ETIAS. ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a planned EU electronic authorisation system for visa-exempt visitors travelling to the border-free Schengen Area. It is not a visa, but rather a visa-waiver system, similar to the US’s ESTA. It serves as a travel authorisation for individuals who do not require a visa to visit Europe. Under ETIAS, these visitors undergo additional security checks before being allowed to enter the EU, alleviating the need for extensive border controls upon arrival. While it has already been approved, it is only set to be implemented in 2025.
The Commission confirmed that the goal is to have ETIAS in place around mid-2025 and explained that they are preparing a campaign to inform travellers about how it will work. The campaign will be launched in early 2025 and will include a dedicated website (europa.eu/etias) with information in more than 32 languages, including non-European ones. Travellers will be charged €7 for the authorisation. Officially, it is recommended that travellers apply for ETIAS 30 days before their trip, but the procedure should normally take no longer than a day or two.
Why it matters: ETIAS is a key travel facilitation measure, the first one of its kind in the EU. GBTA will support the EU in making sure information about the new system reaches the business traveller community and will contribute to the information campaign.
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➤ GBTA publishes video insights with Policy Recommendations for the EU
Following the presentation of GBTA’s Policy Priorities for the EU’s 2024-2029 mandate, members of the European Advisory Board recorded a series of videos outlining what these are in front of the European Parliament in Brussels. They also explained what business travel is and GBTA’s main activities, with the goal of educating new Members of the European Parliament and EU officials. GBTA Europe has published these videos in the past few weeks:
- Catherine Logan explains GBTA’s advocacy in Europe.
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David McNeill and Julia Sullivan present what business travel is and the specific characteristics of the business travel ecosystem.
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Jorge Mesa expands on the value business travel brings to Europe.
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Ben Park asks EU policymakers to modernise the travel ecosystem to make travel more sustainable and competitive.
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Alex Mueller shares how business travel is driving transition toward more sustainable travel.
Why it matters: GBTA has posted these videos on social media to keep the momentum ahead of the European elections in June and make sure the voice of the business travel community is heard and taken into account when the new Parliament and Commission take office later this year.
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Key Developments
➤ European Commission clashes with airlines over greenwashing investigation
What is new: The Commission released a Communication on 30 April, stating that it has sent “letters to 20 airlines identifying several types of potentially misleading green claims and inviting them to bring their practices in line with EU consumer law within 30 days.” The letters focused on claims made by airlines that the CO2 emissions caused by a flight could be offset by climate projects or using sustainable fuels, to which the consumers could contribute by paying additional fees. The airlines have 30 days to provide a resolution, outlining the proposed measures to address the Commission’s concerns.
Airline lobby A4E said in a statement that “rules defining what constitutes a misleading claim vary significantly between countries and are still evolving,”, noting that proposed EU legislation on green claims is expected “to establish a clear legal framework for sustainability communications across all sectors.” The lobby criticised the Commission’s definition of greenwashing, contained in its press release, as “using the term ‘sustainable aviation fuels’ (SAF) without clearly justifying the environmental impact of such fuels.” “We are particularly concerned about the remarks on [SAF] and the requirement for a clear justification of their environmental impact,” A4E said. “The EU has implemented an ambitious SAF mandate, supported and endorsed by the European Commission, and the science supports that this is a more sustainable alternative to regular jet fuel,” the lobby added, pledging “to develop a common methodology for airlines to effectively communicate our sustainability efforts and progress.”
Consumer organisation BEUC, on the other hand, warned that airlines are using baseless claims. They noted that airlines should not promote the use of SAFs because they are “not yet market-ready and will not be widely available before at least the end of the next decade.” It also called offset claims “factually incorrect” because there is no proven equivalence between their climate benefits and the CO2 emissions associated with air travel.
Why it matters: The lack of clarity about what constitutes a baseless green claim (greenwashing) could lead to airlines avoiding making claims (greenhushing) to dodge investigations. The Green Claims Directive, which will only be finalised after the EU elections, could bring clarity to the aviation sector. The airlines have 30 days to provide a resolution, outlining the proposed measures to address the Commission’s concerns. This will be followed by a meeting with the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) network to discuss the proposed measures. If the airlines involved do not take the necessary steps to solve concerns raised in the letter, CPC authorities can decide to take further enforcement actions, including sanctions.
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➤ European Parliament meets for the final time before the election, approves Net Zero Industry Act
What is new: From the 22nd to the 25th of April, the current European Parliament held its final plenary session in Strasbourg ahead of the election in June. The new Parliament will meet for the first time in July 2024. In its final meeting, MEPs approved a long list of legislative files. Among them was the Net Zero Industry Act, which aims to scale up the manufacturing of clean technologies in the EU. It was a response to the US’s Inflation Reduction Act, which has the same objective. For the travel sector, it includes support for the development of sustainable aviation fuels, which under EU legislation should gradually become a bigger share of airlines’ fuel mix in the coming years.
Why it matters: The NZIA should incentivise the production of sustainable aviation, the demand for which is rapidly increasing, with producers struggling to meet it. The production and take up of these fuels will help make business travel more sustainable.
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➤ European Council calls for a “New Competitiveness Deal”
What is new: On 17 and 18 April, European heads of state and government met in Brussels for a Special European Council meeting. In it, they agreed to endorse a “New European Competitiveness Deal”, a new political direction that would prioritise keeping the EU competitive at the global level. This new strategic direction seems to be a first step towards the definition of the next Commission’s legislative programme following the June election. After the approval of the Green Deal during this legislative term, EU leaders are increasingly focussing on making Europe’s economy more competitive to prevent it from falling behind when faced with Chinese and American competition. They call for policy action to be put at the service of enhancing Europe’s economic, manufacturing, industrial and technological base. To do so, they identify a series of areas for action, including the European Single Market, industrial policy, research and innovation, energy policy, trade, a Capital Markets Union, circular economy, and digital and social policies.
Why it matters: The EU’s attention seems to be turning from ambitious environmental measures to keeping the EU’s economy competitive. This does not mean the Green Deal will be abandoned but the next EU term (2024-2029) will likely be focussed on making sure EU companies stay competitive while taking up sustainable practices.
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➤ Former Italian Prime Minister Letta publishes report on EU Single Market, calls for high speed rail and better transport connections
What is new: On 17 April, former Italian head of government Enrico Letta published his report on the EU Single Market. This came following a call from the European Council on the 30 June 2023 “for an independent High-Level Report on the future of the Single Market”. The report presents a comprehensive plan for strengthening Europe's economic resilience in the face of global challenges.
For the transport sector, the report calls for its strategic development as the sector is “indispensable for the EU's ambitious agenda to transition towards a green economy.” It calls on the EU to establish a truly integrated Trans-European Network of Transport, encompassing key railways, inland waterways, short sea shipping routes, and roads that connect urban nodes, ports, airports, and terminals, as well as to eliminate the inefficient and unnecessary residual barriers between modes and national systems, including by addressing the existing regulatory and technical barriers. In addition, it proposed the establishment of a comprehensive, pan-European high-speed rail (HSR) network, seamlessly linking all EU capitals and major urban centres, to revolutionise European travel and catalyse EU integration. It also asks the EU to enable seamless travel between all European capitals for electric vehicles by ensuring a comprehensive charging infrastructure along connecting routes. On top of that, it asks the EU to oppose any attempt to limit freedom of movement between Member States. More here.
Why it matters: The report will be feed into discussions about the next European Commission’s work programme and its conclusions could serve as inspiration for the transport policy agenda in the next five years.
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➤ Latest on the European Elections
Lead EU candidates face off in first debate in Maastricht ahead of election, with incumbent von der Leyen as clear frontrunner
On 29 April, lead candidates for the European Elections gathered in Maastricht to debate the future of the Green Deal, the EU’s security and defence policies, and European democracy. This first campaign event has set a markedly confrontational tone for the lead-up to the elections in June, with candidates trading barbs on the continuity of green policies, migration, and foreign interference. Incumbent Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emerged unscathed from the debate, and Greens candidate Bas Eickhout also put up a convincing performance. However, much of the campaign will depend on national issues and Ms von der Leyen’s future will not be known for certain until EU leaders and the new Parliament confirm their support for a second term. More here.
Registration is open for EU post-election GBTA webinar
On 13 June, join GBTA and its European Public Affairs team, Grayling Public Affairs, to learn about the results of the election and the impact the new Parliament will have on the European Commission’s and Council’s ability to make policy choices, most notably in implementing the next phase of the European Green Deal. Registration is free. Click here to learn more and register for this webinar.
Reminder about the European elections
Context: The European Parliament election scheduled for 6-9 June 2024, will shape the EU's political course for the next five years. Ahead of this significant vote, here's a breakdown of the essentials shaping what could be a defining moment for the bloc.
What's happening?
Citizens in the EU's 27 member states will participate in the European Parliament election. The Parliament hosts 720 members and distributes seats based on the principle of "degressive proportionality," granting smaller states a larger representation. For instance, Germany holds the highest seats at 96, while Malta possesses merely six. Elections to the European Parliament are based on national lists, whereby citizens vote for national parties. Winning candidates from these parties form parliamentary groups with similar political ideologies across EU states. For instance, the European Parliament's Socialist and Democrats (S&D) group consists of members from various parties like Germany’s Social Democratic Party, France’s Socialist Party, and Italy’s Democratic Party.
Why do the EU elections matter?
As one of the EU's legislative bodies alongside the Council of the European Union (representing Member States governments), the European Parliament plays a pivotal role in shaping EU law. It shares equal power with the Council in the co-decision procedure, impacting about 84 policy areas, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), environmental policy, and internal security policies. Additionally, the Parliament's approval is critical for EU treaty reforms, determining the EU's financial priorities through budget approval, and electing the European Commission President and confirming the College of Commissioners.
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