As part of the activities of the French Presidency for the Council of the European Union, the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg was at an official meeting in Toulouse on behalf of the Maltese Government. Prospective plans for the aviation sector were discussed during these meetings.
During the ministerial meeting, the Toulouse Declaration was adopted, which looks fully at a sustainable future for the aviation sector as well as effective ways to translate the decarbonisation of the sector.
Minister Ian Borg said, “Many believe this is a historic statement that will change the future of aviation and bring about a reduction in the pollution it causes. Given the impact that the pandemic has had on this sector on a global scale, it is worth noting that Malta was one of the first to rise to its feet so that this sector, which is a key pillar of our economy, it will resume operating very effectively in order to continue to bear fruit and attract many investments to our country. ”
The meeting discussed a number of issues, including the key role of aviation in ensuring and improving regional multimodal connectivity as well as on a global scale for Europe and the rest of the world. Plans on the need for immediate and adequate action to support and incentivize the decarbonisation of aviation were also discussed, especially in the light of the Paris agreement and the sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change.
A list has also been made of the European Union’s climate commitments for 2030 and 2050 and the Fitfor55 package.
During this visit, the European Ministers also visited the facilities of the international airline AirBus, which produces aircraft for the various airlines.
