Brussels, 16/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - In an open letter published on Wednesday 14 April at its 8th Regional Airline Conference, the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) called for improvement of the legislative process at European level. ERA said that the “better regulation” principles espoused by the European Commission should become the rule throughout Europe and that every legislative proposal should be accompanied by an impact assessment study. ERA feels that its comments are not sufficiently taken on board by the Commission, and says that Europe is currently not delivering its “strategic, performance, social and competitive goals” and its cumbersome decision-making process results in unworkable and unnecessary legislation. “Air transport is a key enabler of economic prosperity and a vital link in the social structure of European society. … Continuing to apply punitive measures to air transport undermines the EU's ability to deliver all of its objectives,” ERA Director General Mike Ambrose told journalists at a press conference at the start of the conference. ERA is opposing inter alia current legislation on compensation for air passengers in the event of flight delay or cancellation (Regulation 261/2004), which the European Commission intended to amend in view of the differences of interpretation (see EUROPE 8890 and 9401). A ruling by the Court of Justice of the EU, which gave passengers whose flights were more than three hours late in arriving the same compensation rights as they would have had if the flight had been cancelled (see EUROPE 10023), removed, the Commission said, any uncertainty over application of the text and, so, removed any need to bring forward a new proposal. However, new proposals (including on baggage handling) might still be presented depending on the outcome of a consultation exercise on air passengers' rights which the Commission opened in December (see EUROPE 10041). The results are due to be released by June. (A.By./transl.rt)