Negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU met, on Tuesday 5 March, to continue discussions on the revision of the Single European Sky (‘SES 2+’) framework. At the time of going to press and after 2.5 years of negotiations (see EUROPE 13334/11), an agreement was close, said a European source contacted by EUROPE.
According to our information, the negotiators discussed five main points: - the role of National Supervisory Authorities (NSAs); - Service provision; - Performance and Charging schemes; - Performance Review Body; - Implementing and delegated acts.
On the second point, they discussed in particular the designation of air navigation service providers, the provision of air navigation services by the military, the acquisition of services and common information services.
With regard to Performance and Charging schemes, they examined local and external circumstances, as well as Functional Airspace Blocks and Joint performance plans. They also discussed binding targets for terminal services in climate and environment, the conditions for transparency and access by the European Commission to data relating to Performance and Charging systems, and determined costs and charges.
Finally, they discussed the independence of the Performance Review Body, its NSA Cooperation Board and its budget and funding.
However, the association of EU airlines, Airlines for Europe (A4E), has shown that “the current compromises fall far short of the ambitious SES that would deliver for passengers, airlines and the environment”, according to an analysis published on Monday 4 March.
The study reveals that, in the areas discussed at this meeting, the current compromises dilute the reforms or lead to a worse outcome than the current situation (see EUROPE 13358/35). “Our analysis shows that policymakers can and must go further to strengthen our Single European Sky”, commented A4E’s Director General, Ourania Georgoutsakou, in a press release. “This would deliver the reforms Europe’s airspace so desperately needs and which passengers and the environment deserve”, she added.
To read A4E’s analysis: https://aeur.eu/f/b5c (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)