The European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) debated regional and island tourism on 23 June 2026, exposing a divide between regional demands for ETS exemptions and the Council's more cautious approach. Jose Manuel Sanabria, representing the Canary Islands deputy ministry and the CPMR Islands Commission, argued that air and maritime connectivity must be treated as essential infrastructure, not ordinary market services. He criticised the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) for imposing costs on outermost regions without sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) availability, citing a Berlin-Gran Canaria flight costing over €5,000 per rotation. Sanabria warned that airlines will shift capacity to non-EU competitors such as Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt, and highlighted a maritime asymmetry: routes between islands and other EEA countries face 100% ETS costs, while routes to third countries face only 50%, diverting traffic to African ports. He called for ETS exemptions and correction of the asymmetry. In contrast, Georgios Mavroiannis of Cyprus's permanent representation, speaking on behalf of the Council presidency, did not address ETS exemptions but stressed that Council conclusions recognise reliable, year-round links as key for balanced tourism, and noted geopolitical instability affecting demand. On tourism models, Sanabria advocated regenerative tourism that restores ecosystems and protects residents' housing, while Mavroiannis framed Council conclusions as supporting sustainability and local community benefits. Both agreed that tourism is linked to territorial cohesion and requires multilevel governance. No formal decisions were taken; the debate informed ongoing work on aviation and tourism strategies.
The exchange highlights a trade-off between decarbonisation goals and the economic viability of island tourism. Granting ETS exemptions could reduce costs for island residents and SMEs but would weaken the EU's climate signal and potentially disadvantage mainland operators. Maintaining current rules risks pushing airlines to reroute via non-EU hubs, harming connectivity and local economies. The Council's silence on exemptions suggests internal divisions among member states, while the Commission's upcoming aviation strategy will be a key test of how these competing interests are balanced.