BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The European Union approved plans Friday that will force airlines to take part in a program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - a move certain to enrage an aviation industry struggling with a looming recession.

The EU's decision means that all airlines flying within its borders will be forced to take part in a program to trade pollution permits beginning in 2012. The program requires airlines to buy more permits if they want to operate more or longer flights, which produce more carbon emissions.

The new rules have been harshly criticized by the United States, which believes the EU has no right to force U.S.-based airlines flying to or across Europe to participate in the program. Washington claims the new law violates international aviation rules.

Eastern European countries have also objected because putting cleaner technology in place will be costly - particularly at a time of economic crisis.

Faced with higher fuel costs, some airlines are already cutting fuel consumption and carbon emissions. They also object to the new rules, because it could burden them with extra costs of as much as 4 billion euros ($5.12 billion) a year.

The EU wants to use the new rules as a base to reach a broad international agreement next year to reduce emissions from aviation.

The plans come a week after EU leaders underlined their desire to strike a deal by December on cutting overall carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020. The European Parliament has already backed the measure, and now bloc's 27 governments will have to put the new rules in place over the next year.