Marian-Jean Marinescu (EPP, Romania), in her role as rapporteur, briefed MEPs on Wednesday 1 September in the European Parliament Transport Committee on the implementation of the Single European Sky.
“An initial trilogue (i.e. an inter-institutional meeting), which was very technical in nature, took place in mid-July. We are working together with the EU Council, but compromises will have to be made. The positions adopted by the European Parliament and the EU Council are far apart from each other. It will be very difficult throughout the file”, said Mr Marinescu.
Specifically, the European Parliament is calling for a rationalisation of the airspace management system and a reduction in its fragmentation (see EUROPE 12743/2). The EU Council, which adopted its position on 3 June (see EUROPE 12733/2), wants Member States to have more room for manoeuvre.
“The European Parliament is much more ambitious than the EU Council. We will have to be firm in our negotiations to ensure that the ‘Single Sky’ is a measure that is equal to the challenges and not just a measure by which Member States can indulge themselves. We must meet the climate, social and environmental goals”, insisted the Chair of the Transport Committee, Karima Delli (Greens/EFA, France). (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)