Cyprus' concerns, as a peripheral and island state of the EU, regarding the legislative proposals concerning air transport will be taken to Brussels by the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Yannis Karousos, where he will have contacts on Thursday with officials of the European Commission, with the main topic of discussion being the European Union's "Fit for 55" legislative package. It is estimated that it will lead to a 40-50% increase in air ticket prices, which will reduce tourism revenues by 15-20% and Gross Domestic Product by 1.75%.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, Mr. Karousos is going to Brussels where he will hold meetings on Thursday with Mr. Franz Timmermans, First and Executive Vice President of the European Commission responsible for the European Green Deal, and Kurt Vandenberg, member of the office of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, specialised in European Green Deal issues.
In addition, the Minister will also give an interview to the Brussels-based publication "POLITICO'' on the same subject, it is reported.
In his meetings, the Transport Minister, it is added, "will convey the concerns of Cyprus, as a peripheral and island state of the EU, regarding the legislative proposals concerning air transport".
"According to Cyprus' estimates, the total cost for air transport for the 27 EU member states by 2050 is estimated at €1.4 trillion, while for Cyprus the concern is focused on the cumulative costs for the period from 2024-2050, estimated at €18 billion in a €24 billion economy," it said.
Furthermore, it adds, based on the assessment of the impact of the legislative package on Cyprus' economy, it is estimated that air ticket prices will increase by 40-50%, which will reduce tourism revenues by 15-20% and Gross Domestic Product by 1.75%.
During the discussions, according to the press release, Mr. Karousos will reiterate Cyprus' commitment to supporting the "Fit for 55" objectives in relation to the environment and the reduction of pollutant emissions and will explain to his interlocutors Cyprus' proposals, which seek to improve the legislative framework in order to take into account the specificities of island and peripheral EU Member States which, due to their geographical location, are highly dependent on air transport.
It is recalled that at the Council of Transport Ministers held in Luxembourg on 2 June 2022, the relevant Ministers reached a general approach on the first legislative proposal of the "Fit for 55" package, adopting initiatives and proposals put forward by Cyprus, such as the extension of the definition of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and synthetic fuels, the exemption for aircraft refuelling, a specific exemption for Cyprus in the alternative fuels infrastructure legislation and the extension of the transition period.
Source: CNA
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