In an own initiative report put forward by Pavel Telička (ALDE, Czech Republic) on the aviation strategy adopted on Thursday 26 January by a comfortable majority (32 votes in favour, 7 against, with 3 abstentions), MEPs at the European Parliament Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN) called on the Commission to examine the possibility of developing a “connectivity index” for aviation.
Developing this kind of index would help to streamline investment and improve intermodal passenger transport, according to the declarations by the rapporteur during the adoption of the text. We were informed in more precise terms that this will involve a development aid instrument for intermodal transport that will help make rational decisions about factual data. This data would focus on criteria as diverse as the number and frequency of transport services, as well as the degree of transport integration. It will also take into account territorial continuity, access available transport on the ground and their costs and environmental impact.
Motorways of the sky. Another innovation: MEPs are calling for motorways of the sky to be set up, which will help circumvent the persisting blockage at the Council on the creation of a single European sky, by putting into practice the notion of the “European Upper Flight Information Region” (see EUROPE 11633).
Less stringent control procedures. In an effort to improve passenger flows, MEPs are proposing to develop a preliminary European control model, which would enable travellers who are already registered to go through less stringent control procedures before embarking on their flights. This will be based on the model established across the Atlantic.
Significantly strengthened social section. The adoption of the report was initially planned for the beginning of December 2016 but following a particularly dense opinion from the Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL), this adoption was postponed, to the great consternation of Mr Telička (see EUROPE 11683). This was done in an effort to reach a compromise with the rapporteur on the said opinion, Ole Christensen (S&D, Denmark) and on the points relating to shared competencies between the EMPL and TRAN Committees.
This has effectively produced a strengthened social section, which several MEPs including Jacqueline Foster (ECR, United Kingdom) would have rejected and who voted against the dossier for this reason alone. MEPs from the Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL, ECR, as well as some of the MEPs at the EFDD also voted against the report.
The text will be put to a vote during the February plenary session. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)