Brussels, 21/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has validated stronger cooperation between the European Union and Eurocontrol, as well as an agreement in the aviation field with Sri Lanka.
The European Parliament has given the go-ahead for the Council to conclude a new agreement with Eurocontrol (already signed last December, see EUROPE 10756), the inter-governmental organisation responsible for ensuring the coordination of air traffic management (ATM) in Europe. On Tuesday 21 May, MEPs voted to expand the scope of this organisation's field of action. The ATM was initially responsible for assessing performance in the area of the European Single Sky but there are now plans for this body to become the technical and operational pillar for implementing the European Single Sky. EU cooperation with this body will now be stepped up but it will also involve ensuring that the work of Eurocontrol and the European Safety Agency doe not overlap and that there are synergies between the two undertakings, particularly in the area of safety and the environment.
On the same day, MEPs also gave their approval to the conclusion of an aviation agreement between the EU and Sri Lanka. This will help replace the existing 15 bilateral agreements between the country and EU member states. This general agreement will now allow all airlines to enjoy unimpeded access to flights linking the European Union and Sri Lanka. (MD/transl.fl)