The videoconference of European Transport Ministers, on Tuesday 8 December, will focus on the revision of the directive on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures (Eurovignette) and the recasting of the Single European Sky.
The ministers will discuss the latest adjustments - detailed in our columns (see EUROPE 12613/14) - made by the German EU Council Presidency to the text on the Eurovignette.
On Tuesday, the Presidency intends “to see what kind of space of manoeuvring States have”, a diplomatic source told EUROPE. In the source’s view, in addition to these final adjustments, the rest of the text should be agreed by consensus.
Berlin therefore hopes that a political agreement in principle (general approach) can be adopted by the ambassadors of the Member States on 18 December, the source said.
Single European Sky, several sensitive points
A second policy debate will then focus on the proposal revising the ‘SES2+’ initiative on the implementation of the Single European Sky (see EUROPE 12565/1) and on the proposal amending the basic Regulation of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
In their preliminary observations, detailed by the German Presidency in a note, several Member States have already questioned some of these proposals.
National supervisory authorities. Among the controversial provisions are those introduced to strengthen the independence of national supervisory authorities and to avoid conflicts of interest, for example by separating the tasks of economic and security supervision.
Several States consider this objective to be unsupported by sufficient evidence and stress the “strong interdependencies between the economic and safety aspects in the provision of air navigation services”, says the German Presidency.
Vertical unbundling. Furthermore, the Commission suggests that air traffic service providers should be able to procure support services (navigation, surveillance, aeronautical in-flight information services, etc.) at market conditions in order to achieve cost efficiency gains.
On this point, several Member States stress that the decision to apply such a market approach should be taken at national level, on a voluntary basis.
Unit rates. Concerns have also been expressed about the proposal to introduce a common European unit rate to provide an incentive for users to take the shortest route, particularly in the event of congestion, and mandatory modulation of charges to reduce emissions from the sector.
They fear that they may lose competitiveness with non-Member State air navigation service providers on this point.
Performance System. In addition, the Commission would like to see performance plans no longer adopted by Member States but by air traffic service providers. However, States do not support a reduction in their role and influence in performance planning processes.
The proposed text also provides for the separation of the planning and target-setting processes for en-route and terminal air navigation services. However, several countries consider that this separation could cause operational and technical problems.
The Commission further suggests that national supervisory authorities should be responsible for terminal services and that a new Performance Review Body should be responsible for en-route services. “In view of the various local specificities, a number of Member States are questioning the advisability of setting EU-wide targets for terminal services”, says the Presidency.
Around the table. Ministers will therefore be invited to detail the proposals they consider most appropriate to improve the performance of air traffic management (ATM) services.
Each country should also decide on the elements of the proposal to be dealt with as a matter of priority and on the mechanisms necessary to guarantee its sovereignty over its airspace.
Other topics.
Finally, the German Presidency will inform the ministers about its draft “New Mobility Approach” (see EUROPE 12593/19) and the status of the current rail transport proposals.
During lunch, a separate event will also be organised by the Ministry of Transport in Berlin. It will bring together the directors of the national railway companies of Austria, France, Switzerland and Germany and should lead to the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding laying the foundations for future cooperation on night trains. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)