Two years since Flight PS752 was downed: joint statement, January 2022

The International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752 today issued the following joint statement:

Almost two years ago, in the early morning of January 8, 2020, the Iranian military fired two surface-to-air missiles and destroyed Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 near Tehran..

We, Ministers representing Canada, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom, honour the memory of the 176 innocent passengers and crew who lost their lives that day. We will never forget this senseless loss of life and stand in solidarity with the victims’ families. They deserve transparency, justice and accountability for this reprehensible tragedy.

As a group of states that have been specially affected by Iran’s breaches of international law, we have united our efforts to ensure that the interests of the victims and their families are served, and that there is respect for the rule of law. With this common purpose, we have consistently called upon Iran to engage in good-faith negotiations to fulfill its international legal obligations to make full reparations for the downing of Flight PS752.

Most recently, the Coordination Group asked Iran to commit to engaging in negotiations with the Group by January 5, 2022. Unfortunately, on December 27, 2021, we received an unequivocal response from Iran that it does not see a need to negotiate with the Group. After initially agreeing to engage with the Group during our first round of negotiations held on July 30, 2020, Iran is now categorically rejecting any further negotiations with the Group related to our collective demand for reparations. As reparations are owed to the affected states, this matter must be discussed collectively, so that all victims are treated fairly and equally.

It is clear that Iran continues to avoid its international legal responsibilities, including by refusing to negotiate further with the Coordination Group and make full reparations for its actions. We will not stand for this affront to the memories of the 176 innocent victims.

Despite our best efforts over the past two years and multiple attempts to resolve this matter through negotiations, the Coordination Group has determined that further attempts to negotiate with Iran on reparations for the destruction of Flight PS752 at this time are futile. The Coordination Group will now focus on subsequent actions to take to resolve this matter in accordance with international law.

We remain united in our commitment to hold Iran accountable for the actions and omissions of its civil and military officials that led to the illegal downing of Flight PS752 by ensuring that Iran makes full reparations for its breaches of international law.

CMA Chief Executive confirms plan to step down in July 2022

Dr Coscelli joined the CMA as an Executive Director when it was created in 2013 and he has held the position of Chief Executive since July 2016. In March 2020 he was re-appointed as CEO for a further term of two years.

CMA Chair Jonathan Scott said:

“Andrea has given outstanding leadership to the CMA during a period of unprecedented change for the UK competition and consumer protection regime.

“As an Executive Director, he was integral to the creation of the CMA in 2013. Subsequently, as Chief Executive, he has led the organisation through a period of transformation, as we took on substantial new responsibilities after the UK’s departure from the EU along with new functions including the Office for the Internal Market and the Digital Markets Unit.

“I know I speak for the Board and for colleagues across the organisation when I say we are immensely grateful for Andrea’s contribution and leadership, domestically and internationally, and for the significant and lasting impact he has had on the organisation.”

CMA Chief Executive Andrea Coscelli said:

“By July I will have served for almost nine years as an Executive Director at the CMA, including six as Chief Executive. I feel now is the right time to confirm I will not be seeking another term.

“There is still a huge amount of work to do over the next six months and my focus will be on delivering the organisation’s objectives and enabling a smooth transition.

“I am grateful to everyone at the CMA for their dedication to consumers and for all the support they have shown me.”

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:

“I am extremely grateful to Andrea Coscelli for the leadership he has provided as Chief Executive of the CMA through the last six years.

“We will continue to work closely with the CMA to promote competition for the benefit of consumers and enable businesses to make the most of the many opportunities on the horizon.”

Andrea Coscelli has held the position of Chief Executive of the CMA since July 2016 and has been an Executive Director at the CMA since 2013. Prior to joining the CMA, Dr Coscelli was the Director of Economic Analysis at Ofcom, the regulatory and competition authority of the telecommunications, postal and broadcasting industries. He was previously a Vice President at Charles River Associates where he represented many different businesses on competition and regulation matters in various European countries. Dr Coscelli was awarded a CBE for services to Competitive Markets in the 2020 New Year Honours.
The CMA is an independent non-ministerial government department. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is the CMA’s ministerial sponsor government department, and it sets the wider framework for competition and consumer policy to deliver the government’s objectives.
Under the terms of the Framework Agreement between the CMA and BEIS, the Secretary of State for BEIS appoints the CMA Chief Executive and sets the terms and conditions according to which he/she holds and vacates their appointment.
The appointment process for the role of CMA Chief Executive is therefore a matter for BEIS and will be set out in due course.

CMA Chief Executive confirms plan to step down in July 2022

CMA Chair Jonathan Scott said:

“Andrea has given outstanding leadership to the CMA during a period of unprecedented change for the UK competition and consumer protection regime.

CMA Chief Executive Andrea Coscelli said:

“By July I will have served for almost nine years as an Executive Director at the CMA, including six as Chief Executive. I feel now is the right time to confirm I will not be seeking another term.

“There is still a huge amount of work to do over the next six months and my focus will be on delivering the organisation’s objectives and enabling a smooth transition.

“I am grateful to everyone at the CMA for their dedication to consumers and for all the support they have shown me.”

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:

“I am extremely grateful to Andrea Coscelli for the leadership he has provided as Chief Executive of the CMA through the last six years.

“We will continue to work closely with the CMA to promote competition for the benefit of consumers and enable businesses to make the most of the many opportunities on the horizon.”

Andrea Coscelli has held the position of Chief Executive of the CMA since July 2016 and has been an Executive Director at the CMA since 2013. Prior to joining the CMA, Dr Coscelli was the Director of Economic Analysis at Ofcom, the regulatory and competition authority of the telecommunications, postal and broadcasting industries. He was previously a Vice President at Charles River Associates where he represented many different businesses on competition and regulation matters in various European countries. Dr Coscelli was awarded a CBE for services to Competitive Markets in the 2020 New Year Honours.
The CMA is an independent non-ministerial government department. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is the CMA’s ministerial sponsor government department, and it sets the wider framework for competition and consumer policy to deliver the government’s objectives.
Under the terms of the Framework Agreement between the CMA and BEIS, the Secretary of State for BEIS appoints the CMA Chief Executive and sets the terms and conditions according to which he/she holds and vacates their appointment.
The appointment process for the role of CMA Chief Executive is therefore a matter for BEIS and will be set out in due course.

Climate Finance Accelerator Turkey: First Cohort of Projects Announced

The Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) Turkey has announced six innovative low-carbon projects that it will support to access finance from investors following a call for proposals that attracted applications from 31 projects. The CFA is part of the UK Government’s efforts to help Turkey tackle climate change.

Projects in the CFA cohort come from the energy and transport sectors. Some of them will increase the energy efficiency in buildings, whilst others support the growth of electric vehicles in Turkey.

To ensure the selected projects are in the best position to attract investment from Turkish and international financiers, the projects will receive capacity building support in areas such as blending finance from public and private sources, how to develop financial models and prepare pitch material, as well as advice on enhancing gender, equality and social inclusion. If they secure funding in the future, the projects will benefit communities across Turkey through pollution abatement, employment opportunities, increased energy efficiency, improved public transportation, and by supporting gender equality and social inclusion efforts.

The CFA is funded by the UK government’s Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). By bringing together stakeholders who can develop and finance climate projects at scale, the CFA will support Turkey’s efforts to meet its commitment under the Glasgow Pact, agreed at COP26 in November, to help keep global warming to within 1.5°C.

The British Ambassador to Turkey, Sir Dominick Chilcott said:

We welcome the Paris Agreement entering into force on 10 November following a unanimous ratification by Parliament and Turkey’s commitment to reach net-zero by 2053. Turkey is now updating its Nationally Determined Contribution and is in the process of adopting its Climate Action Plan. As the UK, and under our ongoing COP26 Presidency, we appreciate Turkey’s timely involvement in global efforts under the Paris Agreement and we are ready to support Turkey during this process.

In this respect, we launched the Climate Finance Accelerator Programme in Turkey in June, in an effort to strengthen the ground for financing low-emission projects by working with the public and private sectors to help leverage climate financing in Turkey. As part of these efforts, planning is also underway to host a UK-Turkey Green Finance Conference in London this year to support the development of a green finance ecosystem in Turkey in support of COP26 objectives.

Dr. Zeynep Yöntem, Ekodenge’s Founding Manager said:

Following its recent ratification of the Paris Agreement, Turkey will be submitting a revised National Determined Contribution (NDC) indicating the new targets for emission reductions. With huge potential for renewables like wind and solar power but inefficient energy use, Turkey provides great opportunities for mitigation projects. It is vital, especially in the near future, to have available resources to support and finance low carbon project pipelines to achieve the national climate goals. The Climate Finance Accelerator’s support will create opportunities between projects and financiers and establish a roadmap for a sustainable project pipeline accessing finance.

The projects started receiving tailored support ahead of a three-day event that will be held in January 2022. The support so far has included individual needs assessment discussions and analysis of each of the projects from financial and technical perspectives. The event will allow project proponents to further refine their financial structuring through tailored discussions with interested financial institutions. The event will also provide an opportunity for all participants to network and for policymakers and other initiatives in the climate finance space to learn from the landscape mapping findings and recommendations. The CFA projects include:

INESS converts commercial spaces into data streaming sources to model and predict human behavior and use those models to optimize buildings operations and sustainability.
Belka Fossil-fuelled buses more than five years old will be converted to run on 100% electricity using advanced technology. This will make them environmentally friendly, quieter and more economical.
Smart Solar Technologies Smart Solar Technologies will expand its production capabilities to include products that are used to make solar modules. The new production facilities will be powered by solar energy which will lower the carbon footprint of each product. The workforce at the new facilities will be 50% female.
Zoop – a smart mobility solution with small size connected vehicles designed especially for sharing within short distances.
Zorlu Enerji – Electrip is Turkey’s first car sharing platform that uses only electric vehicles.
Zorlu Enerji– Zorlu Energy Solutions aims to help electric vehicle users and speed up the electric vehicle revolution with its intracity and intercity stations. Charging station installation is also available for homes and offices.

Notes to editors:

UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS): The CFA is funded by International Climate Finance in BEIS. BEIS is the UK government department responsible for business, industrial strategy, science, research and innovation, energy, clean growth and climate change. UK International Climate Finance is the UK government’s commitment to support developing countries to respond to climate change. The UK has committed to spend at least £11.6 billion of International Climate Finance between 2021 and 2025. This is the UK’s contribution to the developed country goal of mobilising $100 billion per year in climate finance by 2020, which underpins the Paris Agreement.
Ekodenge is a private consultancy and R&D SME founded in 1996. Located in Technological Development Area of Hacettepe University in Ankara, Ekodenge focuses on providing solutions and services for sustainability issues with proven capacity and references for both research and applied projects. Ekodenge design and engineering team is driven to provide convenient, innovative, cost-effective, environmentally friendly and applicable solutions for cities and the built environment.
The global CFA programme is delivered by PwC UK, in collaboration with Ricardo Energy & Environment.

Civil Aviation Authority 2021 progress report

During the passage of the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021 through Parliament, ministers confirmed that the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) annual progress report on the airspace modernisation strategy would be published, and a copy placed in the libraries of both Houses accompanied by a written ministerial statement (WMS).

The airspace modernisation strategy sets out, through 15 initiatives, ways and means of modernising airspace, initially focussing on the period until the end of 2024. The initiatives include airspace design, operational concepts and new technology.

Six of the 15 initiatives are assessed as on track, and 5 initiatives require further work. The delayed timescales of delivery against the original plans set out in the airspace modernisation strategy have predominantly shifted because of ongoing recovery of the aviation industry from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Four initiatives will need further legislation on performance-based navigation and air traffic management, core elements of the airspace modernisation strategy. The Department for Transport will be taking legislation forward this year to ensure continued progress to the overall airspace modernisation strategy programme.

Key areas of progress have been noted within free route airspace (initiative 2), remobilisation of the future airspace strategy implementation south and north airspace change programmes made possible by government funding (initiatives 4 and 5) and initiatives 9, 10 and 11 on aligning air traffic provision with international standards, review of airspace classification and electronic conspicuity respectively.

There has also been progress with the Airspace Change Organising Group submitting Iteration 2 of their masterplan – which will set out where airspace changes need to be coordinated and developed – for assessment by the CAA.

Chapter 2 provides an update from the co-sponsors on policy and regulatory process, with a particular emphasis on stakeholder engagement activity undertaken as part of the airspace modernisation strategy refresh and the re-introduction of the Airspace Modernisation Strategy Support Fund. Strategic risks have also been flagged within this chapter, predominantly concerning future delivery model, financing, and resourcing of the modernisation programme.

Chapter 3 provides updates related specifically to activities under the airspace modernisation strategy, undertaken within areas of particular interest from the general aviation and communities stakeholder groups.

I will place a copy of the Airspace modernisation – 2021 progress report in the libraries of both Houses.