At the Summit of the European Union for Aviation, held under the aegis of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU in Vienna on Wednesday 3 October, Violeta Bulc, the European Commissioner for Transport, confirmed that by the end of the year, the Commission will publish a report on social matters in the aviation sector.
This report, which was promised to the unions in September, comes as part of the 'European Aviation Strategy' presented by the Commission in December 2015 (see EUROPE 11447). Recalling that the institution undertook to support social dialogue, provide a detailed analysis on employment, publish a practical guide and consider whether there is a need for clarification concerning employment law and the competent courts for disputes, Bulc said that the Commission was “walking the path” to keeping these commitments.
This statement came on the day after the signature by the transport ministers of Germany, Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands of a declaration calling on the Commission to present a social agenda for this sector by the end of the year.
Over the two-day summit (3 and 4 October), participants will also discuss digitalisation, infrastructure, international agreements and the environmental aspect of aviation. It is worth noting that the press conference was interrupted by Green activists slamming the environmental damage caused by aviation. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)