BBC News Clicky

I personally think this tax should be scrapped altogether, on the condition that the industry promises to offset their environmental impact. We seem to be the only Country charging such a tax, which surely can only act to damage the United Kingdom as an international transport hub?

Good. Why do we need to be an international transport hub? Surely less flights will be ever more environmentally friendly?

It might damage the economy, particularly in the London area and around Manchester. Environmentally friendly maybe, but the industry promises to be carbon-neutral by 2020, and serious efforts are being made by aeronautical engineers to reduce noise and increase fuel efficiency.

Sadly the only way I can see flight numbers decreasing is either by making the United Kingdom a very unattractive place to fly to (which is clearly going to have a negative effect on the economy), or if the world population starts going down instead of up.

Pushing airlines away to use e.g. France or Holland as their primary European hub would do nothing for the environment. It simply shifts the problem and the profit to someone else.

However, I would be all in favour of a fair world-wide "eco tax" if it was genuinely used to fund projects of benefit to our planet. Fat chance of that though.

The only way to reduce business travel is to improve communications. We've had video conferencing and teleworking for over a decade now. Although it's being used more than ever, I still believe a lot of travel is unnecessary. Frankly, I think a lot people like to feel important and enjoy a good old first class jolly abroad wot wot.

It seems the EU Commission will seek to increase the use of video conferencing in order to avoid pointless flights:



PC Pro Clicky

Reducing the amount of travel, especially unnecessary travel is a great idea and video conferencing and things like GoToMeeting are great.

But applying these sorts of taxes alone is just going to redirect money and jobs elsewhere.

The "Commision will also work" is code for.."we will do naff all but we can say we are doing something, now where can i sign to get this added onto my expenses"

If I fly Premium Economy ( it is treated as Bus / 1st class for the tax) then it will be a cheaper to go via EuroStar to Paris / Amsterdam and fly from there. So if I am heading west ( to the states) I will

Burn fuel to get to / from Amsterdam (rail)
Burn fuel to fly to / from Amsterdam back over Heathrow on my way

It’s not a “green” tax it’s just a Tax – pure and simple

That's not my experience of the EU Commission at all. I've seen plenty of proposals come into being, but then I actually study EU law as part of my degree, most others just make wild accusations.

Its not really a wild accusation.
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Just because a body EU or otherwise says its going to do some work doesnt follow that work will be done.

Just look at the amount given against pledged at the various G8 meetings.
Just look at any political parties manifesto. Or there responses to any major event etc

Saying isnt doing.

If you actually read deeper you'd realise that your first link is to do with MEPs, which are another ball game.

As for the EU accounts getting signed off, believe it or not this is normally caused by Member States fannying about with the money they get from the EU.