Paris (AFP)
The introduction of an ecotax as proposed by the citizens' convention would have "absolutely deleterious consequences" on the social level for the already damaged air transport, ruled Monday the Minister Delegate for Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari.
"The consequences, especially social, is the destruction in the long term of around 120,000 to 150,000 jobs, which still seems a little baroque in the situation we are experiencing," said Mr. Djebbari on LCI.
"As a politician, we must say all the consequences. And the consequences in terms of employment at a time when France is going through a major crisis, they would be massive if this tax were imposed in an authoritarian manner," he said. he adds.
For the minister, "we must not travel less, but ensure that aviation is less emitting, less polluting".
The citizens' convention adopted the principle of an "enhanced kilometer eco-contribution" of 30 euros per ticket for flights of less than 2,000 kilometers, 60 euros for flights of more than 2,000 kilometers in eco class (180 and 400 euros in business class ).
According to an impact study carried out by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC), the cost of this tax would be 4.2 billion euros for the sector.
This proposal for the citizens' convention will be the subject of a "bill debated democratically only at the beginning of next year", according to the minister.
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