Brussels, 03/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 3 May, the European Commission unveiled new provisions on Single European Sky (SES). Firstly, deployment of the SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) project, the technological pillar modernising the air traffic management system, has now been adopted under a new regulation. Secondly, the framework for improving SES performance during the second period, 2015-2019, has been endorsed by the Commission. Both moves will help to make aviation safer, more effective and less costly.
The Commission has revised legislation for the framework for SES performance enhancement, so that member states may negotiate binding objectives for the period 2015 on security, the environment, capacity, and cost effectiveness. This reference framework already results from a consensus among the EU27, but Commissioner Kallas underlines that “we can and we must do better”. He says: “Now that the framework is set, we will focus our efforts on the adoption, by the end of this year, of realistic and ambitious targets to enable real progress during the second reference period, in particular in terms of cost reduction”. Such objectives are indispensable to the success of the SES, which is already behind schedule. The targets for the current 2012-2014 period have only been partially attained by member states. Also, although the revised framework is described as “ambitious” by the European Commission, this opinion is not shared by airlines. The latter had, in March this year, deplored the fact that the member states are toning down the ambitious first proposals from the Commission for this performance framework (see EUROPE 10803).
The Commission, moreover, intends to soon open a public consultation exercise on the extent of these performance targets. The results should inform to the next Commission proposal for the objectives to be set for after 2015.
Immediately after this review, the European Commission also adopted a new regulation defining the governance and arrangements for deployment of the SESAR project. Deployment is the second stage of three for improving air traffic control, namely by strengthening security, reducing costs by 50% and the environmental impact per flight by 10%. Although deployment amounts to €30 billion, it is expected that €419 billion will be made in savings, in addition to 300,000 new jobs generated, and 50 million tonnes of CO2 avoided. This new regulatory framework establishes several instruments for achieving this, namely joint projects, governance mechanisms, deployment programmes and targeted incentives. The first deployment project should therefore see light of day next year. European Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas was delighted saying: “Airlines, airports and air navigation service providers want to see concrete benefits flowing from the programme to deliver on performance improvements, and with the adoption of this regulation, those benefits got closer”.
The delays in setting the Single European Sky in place have repercussions on efficiency, safety and the environmental impact and aviation costs. The European Commission therefore intends to propose a package revising the second version of SES in coming months. Unions have already stated their opposition to this (see EUROPE 10839). (MD/transl.jl)