Brussels, 10/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - What is the current situation on setting up the nine functional airspace blocks (FABs)? The European Commission has only received formal notification for two blocks - that of Ireland and the United Kingdom, and that linking Denmark and Sweden. This is why European Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas is preparing to send formal letters of notice to the member states that have not respected the deadline of 4 December for rendering the FABS operational. The FABS are crucial pillars for accomplishing the Single European Sky (see EUROPE 10744). Spain and Italy apparently show the delays of greatest consequence.
The agreements for the two UK-Irish and Danish-Swedish FABs were concluded - in 2008 and 2010 respectively - and the Commission was duly notified. These are the two blocks where the most work has been accomplished. The North Europe block is already covered by a state agreement between Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Norway which should enter into force at the end of January. As far as Central Europe (FABEC) is concerned, negotiations are under way between Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland. A treaty has linked these countries since 2010, but no formal agreement has yet entered into force to create the FABs that concern this area. The situation is similar for the Baltic block (Lithuania and Poland), the second FAB CE block covering Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, and finally the Danube block (Bulgaria and Romania). All these countries are in negotiation and have signed state agreements, but none of the agreements have yet been applied.
It should be noted that an agreement between Cyprus, Italy, Greece and Malta has been signed with a view to creating the Blue Mediterranean block (Blue Med FAB). However, this agreement has still not been applied. Albania and Tunisia are associate partners to this block, Jordan and Lebanon having the role of observer countries.
The situation is more critical for the South-West airspace block which includes Spain and Portugal. A state agreement should have been signed at the end of last month, but the event was cancelled at the last minute. At this stage, no further date has been given for continuation of the work. (MD/transl.fl)