D. whereas there were advances in the negotiations at the beginning of 2011, as reflected in the reports of the negotiating chairs presented on 21 April 2011, but through the same reports it also became apparent that it will be very difficult to reach an agreement during 2011, as previously discussed in the Trade Negotiations Committee;

– having regard to the informal meetings of the Trade Negotiations Committee on 31 May 2011, 22 June 2011 and 26 July 2011, as well as the documents by the negotiating chairs presented on 21 April 2011,

D. whereas there were advances in the negotiations at the beginning of 2011, as reflected in the reports of the negotiating chairs presented on 21 April 2011, but through the same reports it also became apparent that it will be very difficult to reach an agreement during 2011, as previously discussed in the Trade Negotiations Committee;

These developments are in line with statements in previous Committee opinions (2): ‘It will be necessary to work through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in order to ensure the worldwide application of an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS); as a practical first step, an intra-EU ETS could be a very feasible option, if this proves appropriate in the course of the negotiations’ (2006); ‘By bringing aviation within the remit of the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) the scheme is itself potentially strengthened and made more robust as the pre-eminent model for tackling CO2 emissions at a global level’ (2007); and mor ...[+++]e recently ‘The Committee accordingly welcomes initiative, which provides for a moratorium on the application of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to airlines operating flights into and out of the European Economic Area, pending the completion of the global negotiations’ (2013).

The committee negotiated the Convention between January 2002 and October 2003.

The committee negotiated the Convention between January 2002 and October 2003.