Paris to push private jet bans at EU ministers meeting
By Théo Bourgery-Gonse | EURACTIV.fr
22 ago 2022 (updated: 23 ago 2022)
Beaune, a former Europe minister, has clarified in an interview in Le Parisien that the EU must act as one on this matter to ensure that all “have the same rules and impact is maximised”. He intends to add the matter to the agenda of the next meeting of European transport ministers in October. [EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON]
Minister of Transport Clément Beaune said he is ready to put banning private jet flights on the agenda of the European transport ministers meeting in October following public backlash from revelations regarding the private jet emissions of France’s wealthy.
Beaune, a former Europe minister, has clarified in an interview in Le Parisien that the EU must act as one on this matter to ensure that all “have the same rules and impact is maximised”. He intends to add the matter to the agenda of the next meeting of European transport ministers in October.
An informal meeting of transport ministers is currently foreseen for 20-21 October 2022 in Prague.
If an outright ban is not an option, Beaune said he is ready to “act and regulate private jet flights”.
Several Twitter accounts aiming to keep track of French billionaires’ private jet flights have flourished in recent weeks. The leading “I Fly Bernard” account, about French billionaire and LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault, seeks to make public “the ecocidal lifestyle” of France’s richest.
On Friday, it was revealed that Bolloré Group’s private jet had carried out three flights on the same day, releasing 22 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, the average car emissions over 10 years.
The same day French Green National Secretary Julien Bayou announced the government wanted an EU-wide response.
Bayou told the daily Libération that it is now time to “ban all private jets. This measure would have an impact on a very small number of people, with immense ecological benefits.” He announced last Friday that he would be tabling a cross-party bill on the matter in the coming weeks.
“Some people are totally disconnected and take the plane like others take the metro,” Bayou added.
“When the government refuses to tax companies who are making huge profits from the energy crisis we’re experiencing, it sends a clear message: impunity for the richest,” explained Bayou.
“How can we ask the population to make an effort if the richest are exempt from everything?”
The government has followed suit, wary of suggesting that rules apply differently between the richest and the rest of the population, especially when “energy sobriety” is at the top of the government’s priorities.
Beaune also says he is ready to broaden the remit of the new EU’s emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) proposals to include private jets. The bloc-wide revamp of the ETS is currently on the table as part of the bloc’s aim to reach a 55% cut in emissions by 2030, known as the ‘Fit for 55’ package. Less restrictive options, such as making all private jet flights public, are also under consideration.
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By Théo Bourgery-Gonse | EURACTIV.fr
22 ago 2022 (updated: 23 ago 2022)

Beaune, a former Europe minister, has clarified in an interview in Le Parisien that the EU must act as one on this matter to ensure that all “have the same rules and impact is maximised”. He intends to add the matter to the agenda of the next meeting of European transport ministers in October. [EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON]
Minister of Transport Clément Beaune said he is ready to put banning private jet flights on the agenda of the European transport ministers meeting in October following public backlash from revelations regarding the private jet emissions of France’s wealthy.
Beaune, a former Europe minister, has clarified in an interview in Le Parisien that the EU must act as one on this matter to ensure that all “have the same rules and impact is maximised”. He intends to add the matter to the agenda of the next meeting of European transport ministers in October.
An informal meeting of transport ministers is currently foreseen for 20-21 October 2022 in Prague.
If an outright ban is not an option, Beaune said he is ready to “act and regulate private jet flights”.
Several Twitter accounts aiming to keep track of French billionaires’ private jet flights have flourished in recent weeks. The leading “I Fly Bernard” account, about French billionaire and LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault, seeks to make public “the ecocidal lifestyle” of France’s richest.
On Friday, it was revealed that Bolloré Group’s private jet had carried out three flights on the same day, releasing 22 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, the average car emissions over 10 years.
The same day French Green National Secretary Julien Bayou announced the government wanted an EU-wide response.
Bayou told the daily Libération that it is now time to “ban all private jets. This measure would have an impact on a very small number of people, with immense ecological benefits.” He announced last Friday that he would be tabling a cross-party bill on the matter in the coming weeks.
“Some people are totally disconnected and take the plane like others take the metro,” Bayou added.
“When the government refuses to tax companies who are making huge profits from the energy crisis we’re experiencing, it sends a clear message: impunity for the richest,” explained Bayou.
“How can we ask the population to make an effort if the richest are exempt from everything?”
The government has followed suit, wary of suggesting that rules apply differently between the richest and the rest of the population, especially when “energy sobriety” is at the top of the government’s priorities.
Beaune also says he is ready to broaden the remit of the new EU’s emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) proposals to include private jets. The bloc-wide revamp of the ETS is currently on the table as part of the bloc’s aim to reach a 55% cut in emissions by 2030, known as the ‘Fit for 55’ package. Less restrictive options, such as making all private jet flights public, are also under consideration.

Paris to push private jet bans at EU ministers meeting - Euractiv
Minister of Transport Clément Beaune said he is ready to put banning private jet flights on the agenda of the European transport ministers meeting in October following public backlash from revelations regarding the private jet emissions of France’s wealthy. Beaune,...