Brussels, 05/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - The MEP Franck Proust (EPP, France) has urged the President of the Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and Commissioners Jyrki Katainen (Employment, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness) and Violeta Bulc (Transport) to give a shot in the arm to the aviation sector. He suggested a moratorium on any further legislation which would infringe the sector's competitiveness. The Commission is in any case planning to draw up a strategy paper regarding this.
In a letter to the President of the European Commission and his Commissioners, on Tuesday 2 December, the MEP notes an upturn in a sector which has a contribution to make to economic recovery. “Aviation needs clear and sectorial political impetus”, says Proust, who calls for simple reforms which, “if set in place, will not cost taxpayers a penny!”
The MEP called for decisions to be made in the regions, within an approach covering the whole of the sector. He recommends that European aviation be given support to face its competitors, that predictability is built into the rules, that the tax burden be lightened and that European standards in terms of technology, taxation and passengers' rights be enforced. He also called on the EU to show courage and “impose a moratorium on any new legislation which may have a negative impact on the competitiveness of the sector”.
In her address to the Parliamentary committee on transport on 3 December, Violeta Bulc announced a strategy paper on aviation under her term in office. So far, there has never been a full document of this kind regarding the sector. However, no agenda seems to have been laid down as yet to remedy this absence. (MD)