Brussels, 08/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - The reactions provoked by the aviation strategy recently presented by the European Commission (see EUROPE 11447) have been unequivocally negative from the European Unions in the aviation sector and rather mixed among the different business sectors.
François Ballestero, the political secretary for civil aviation at the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF), said that “the strategy is not in line with Commissions' commitment to high social and employment standards which is part of the 2016 work programme”. He also affirmed that they needed concrete proposals to fight social dumping and ensure fair competition both in the single market and with regard to third countries.
A similar response was made by the European Cockpit Association (ECA), which represents airline pilots. The association's president, Dirk Polloczek, considered the strategy as being “deeply disappointing” and “clearly” a failure on social issues. He subsequently announced that strengthening the social pillar in the strategy would be one of the absolute priorities of the ECA for 2016. Its objective would be to fight against all kinds of atypical employment conditions, social dumping and flying flags of convenience.
The response from the industrial actors varied from sector to sector. The organisations representing the airlines welcomed, in a press release, the fact that the Commission recognised the major role played by aviation as a driver in the European economy. Nonetheless they regretted that “the strategy lacks ambition and does not propose adequate measures to bolster the competitiveness of air operators”, particularly with regard to market coherency, tax burdens at national and regional levels and the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
Airport representatives, however, expressed their satisfaction with it. Olivier Jankovec, the director general of ACI Europe, welcomed the fact that “The Commission has gotten it right … What it has put on the table today is a commendably pragmatic approach”. He said that they particularly appreciated the improvements to airline route connections and the announcement of a possible revision of the directive on airport fees, a real stumbling block that has pitted the airports and airlines against each other.
The civilian drone manufacturing sector and commercial operators welcomed the strategy for recognising the key economic role played by drones in the aviation sector and for the European economy as a whole. Andrew Charlton, the executive director of the European Small UAV Coalition (small-scale civilian drones), stated that “this is an essential move on the part of the Commission”. He particularly appreciated the choice made in favour of an approach based on risk assessment instead of a rigid regulatory approach. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)