Brussels, 24/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - Agreement may emerge shortly in trialogue on the draft EU regulation on noise pollution, part of the airport package of rules to improve the capacity and efficiency of airports. The less controversial noise pollution aspects have been hived off to be negotiated separately. The other two aspects are far more controversial, namely liberalising ground handling services (which the trade unions are unhappy about) and adjusting the award of landing and take-off slots (which industry has doubts about).
A trialogue meeting on noise pollution around airports is planned for Monday 27 January, chaired by EP rapporteur Jörg Leichtfried (S&D, Austria) and it is possible that an informal interinstitutional agreement will emerge there. If not, then another trialogue meeting is scheduled for the first week of February on the fringes of the EP's plenary in Strasbourg. At this stage, nothing must be taken for granted until there is agreement on everything: the outstanding issues are related to health (which the EP demands must be taken on board), the transition period (the ministers say two years, the EP does not want a transition period at all) and the Commission's right of scrutiny. The key issue is this last one, because the Commission wants the power to supervise decisions taken about airports by local authorities in order to protect people living close by. The Commission aims to ensure decisions become more transparent, balanced and coherent across the EU.
Agreement at the trialogue meeting on noise pollution would bring the airport package centre-stage (it has been on the back burner for nearly a year now). It is still possible for the package to be agreed upon during the current European Parliament. The Greek Presidency would then begin talks on ground handling services, handing over airslots to the Italian Presidency. (MD/transl.fl)