An Air France-KLM plane.

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Mario FOURMY / SIPA

Greenpeace announced in the Netherlands on Monday that it is taking legal action to force the Dutch government to end financial aid to the airline KLM, which the NGO says is not accompanied by sufficient conditions on the climate.

The country announced in June that it would provide assistance of 3.4 billion euros to the Dutch company, a member of the Air France-KLM alliance, to enable it "to face the crisis" linked to the new coronavirus.

Our colleagues from Greenpeace Netherlands @GreenpeaceNL are taking legal action against the Dutch government's aid to KLM ✈️.



The aid amounts to 3.4 billion euros and has no weather conditions. # SavePeopleNotPlane https://t.co/WG3GCiwXvF

- Greenpeace France (@greenpeacefr) September 14, 2020

This aid breaks down into a loan of 2.4 billion granted by 11 banks, 90% guaranteed by the Dutch state, as well as a direct loan of one billion euros from the latter to KLM.

Greenpeace has initiated summary proceedings against the Dutch government to “force it to stop its rescue plan” towards the company “because the climatic conditions are lacking”, explained the environmental organization in a statement.

A cap on CO2 emissions?

“The government is neglecting to make strict agreements for KLM to reduce pollution,” said Dewi Zloch, climate and energy specialist at Greenpeace Netherlands, quoted in the statement.

"This rescue plan is fueling the climate crisis, breaking the duty of the Dutch government to protect its citizens," she said.

KLM had indicated that the direct loan from the State was associated with "the company's commitments in terms of sustainable development", without giving further details.

Greenpeace, which affirms that "KLM operates without a solid climate action plan", particularly wants the government to set up a cap on CO2 emissions for the company, which "must be reduced every year".

Discussions until October 1

“A more sustainable aviation will not be achieved with the slow measures that are currently in place,” denounces Dewi Zloch, arguing for the revocation of flights of less than a thousand kilometers.

The government has until October 1 to begin discussions with Greenpeace to find out whether or not it will accede to these requests, the NGO said.

Dutch Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra said he welcomed a possible trial with confidence, according to public television NOS.

He added that the European Commission has already deemed this aid "quite acceptable".

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