Brussels, 08/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - According to the aviation strategy presented on Monday 7 December, whose main guidelines have been set out for the next four years, the European Commission wants to make progress in 2016 on the Single Europe Sky 2+ package (SES2 +).
The Single Sky has existed for a long time, more than 10 years, following the liberalisation of the aviation sector began in the 1990s. Nonetheless it continues to stall and run up against a number of different obstacles, the main one being the question of Gibraltar (see EUROPE 11368). According to the Association of European Airlines (AEA), the absence of a single European sky will lead to delays of 11 million minutes every year and extra costs of €5 billion, as well as additional CO2 emissions of 8 million tonnes.
The Commission is therefore calling on the member states and European Parliament to adopt the SES 2+ package as soon as possible, in an effort to ensure optimum efficiency in air traffic control and governance. Certain stakeholders in the aviation sector regard this as a pious wish, however, particularly the airlines, which would have preferred the Commission to have announced concrete initiatives instead. According to one European source, the Gibraltar dossier is making good progress, which suggests that a possible step forward could be made next year.
In the meantime, the Commission, intends to continue with the introduction of Sky Air Traffic Management (SESAR) and is injecting almost €430 million every year until 2020, in addition to the financial backing of the Horizon 2020 and Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), streamlining the roles and tasks of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is in charge of the Union strategy on aviation security and certification of aviation products, as well as Eurocontrol, which is responsible for Air Traffic Management (ATM) in Europe and currently brings together 41 members. In 2016, the EU is expected to conclude the Eurocontrol accession protocol ratification process. In 2017, the Commission intends to revise the functions carried out by the air traffic network manager, which is governed by Regulation 677/2011, which Eurocontrol is in charge of until 2019.
Some of the other points raised in the internal chapter that have already been identified in the interservice version of the beginning of November (see EUROPE 11438), include the airports, which suffer from high levels of congestion. Some of them are having to confront significant financial difficulties and particular focus on this aspect is covered in the strategy. On the question of airline route connections, the Commission is subsequently seeking to monitor trends on the internal market and with third countries, together with the airport Observatory. Between 2016-2017, it will carry out a study, in an effort to decide whether a revision on airport fees (2009/12) is necessary and will ultimately publish interpretive guidelines on the 1008/2008 regulation on common rules for the use of airline services in 2016. This will be used to clarify the legal framework on the public service obligations, which particularly affect the regional airports. Finally, the Commission is proposing a revision of the 96/67 directive in 2017 on ground handling assistance in airports (ground guidance services, cleaning and catering).
Although 14.4 million flights are expected to be made in Europe by 2035, 50% more than in 2012, the Commission would like to guarantee high level safety and security standards in line with those set out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). In this connection, it is proposing by the end of this year, a basic revised regulation on common rules for civil aviation security, by adding provisions on civilian drones and replacing the 2016/2008 regulation on common rules for civil aviation. EASA will be in charge of setting out the conditions for operating drones and industrial security standards in this area. It will also put forward a document on aviation security in Europe, as well as the balance sheet for this field.
The social chapter has experienced a certain number of changes compared to the November version. The Commission is therefore proposing that instead of interpretive guidelines, there should be a practical guide on labour law and the remit of the courts, which will be produced by the European legal network for civil and commercial matters. One institutional source close to the dossier said this would simply involve a “change in terminology”. The unions, however, believe that this is a step backwards, because the first option was based on case law and was more favourable towards the workers.
On the issue of passenger rights, the Commission has not made any further announcements but is calling on the member states and the European Parliament to make swifter progress towards the revision of the 261/2004 regulation on common rules for compensation and passenger assistance in the event of refused embarkation, flight cancellation or significant delays. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)