Brussels, 20/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Transport Council, gathered under the Presidency of the French Transport Minister, Jean-Claude Gayssot, began its works by rapidly adopting the issues of air transport, before spending the evening on the main dossier of this two day session: maritime safety. Only difficult points of the aviation dossier, the issues of the dispute with the United States over the ban of planes equipped with hushkits, will be tackled this Thursday at lunch.
The Ministers adopted conclusions on the Air safety Authority (EASA) that will be responsible for the certification of aeronautical material and verifying its use. Sweden undertook to accelerate the works during its Presidency for the establishment of the Authority. Germany and the Netherlands confirmed their candidacy to host the seat of the EASA. The Council, by adopting "conclusions from the Presidency" on the negotiation of an transatlantic aviation agreement with the United States, worked to note that their remain "legal" obstacles (in other words: the Commission must withdraw its complaints before the Court of Justice against the Member States that have concluded bilateral aviation agreements) and that the works must be continued to widen the mandate of the Committee for the liberalisation of traffic rights. A solution could consist of joining to the future mandate of the Commission a declaration from Ireland, country most opposed to the liberalisation of EU/United States traffic as it fears its impact on the airport of Shannon. The Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio noted that the absence of agreement in the Council next June would have a negative impact on the European aviation industry and the relations with the United States.
The Council discussed work on the harmonisation of qualifications of cabin staff regarding safety, hoping that they would soon reach agreement. Belgium placed emphasis on all personnel present on board, like those accompanying groups for example, having training in matters of safety. The Council then adopted its common position on the regulation indefinitely prolonging the harmonisation of passage to summer time in the EU. The Commission will have to submit an evaluation report in 5 years.
Finally, ministers welcomed the conclusions of the report by the high-level "single sky" group on air traffic management in Europe, hoping that the Commission would present a communication as early as January defining the legislative priorities in view of an in-depth debate in Council on 5 and 6 April.