The European Union will not change its law obliging airlines flying to Europe to join its emissions trading scheme, the European Commission President has said.
From 1 January next year, the EU will require all airlines flying to Europe to be included in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
The scheme forces polluters to buy permits for each tonne of carbon dioxide they emit above a certain cap.
China is spearheading opposition to the plan, saying it will cost Chinese airlines some €85m in the first year and more than triple that by 2020.
But today, José Manuel Barroso said the inclusion of aviation in the ETS is not a proposal, it is now European law.
'It was approved unanimously by the member states of the European Union, and it was adopted ... with a very strong backing by the European Parliament.
'So we are not thinking at all about the possibility of changing our legislation,' Mr Barroso told a news conference.
