Brussels, 06/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The new European Advisory Group on Aerospace competitiveness began its work, on Friday in Brussels, under the presidency of European Industry Commissioner Erkki Liikanen. The "STAR 21" group composed of senior officials of the private sector and of European institutions should present a report early 2002 on the regulatory and legal framework of the aerospace industry, mainly dealing with aid questions, regulatory constraints, market functioning, research structures or the environment. Industry Commissioner Erkki Liikanen, Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin, transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio, External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten and Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy were to take part at the opening session, as well as the presidents of the six major European aerospace companies: EADS, BaeSystems, Rolls-Royce, SNECMA, Thales and Finmeccanica. The Advisory Group comes within the framework of the initiatives aimed at developing the competitiveness of the European aerospace industry, launched with impetus given by Commission President Romano Prodi. A European Advisory Council for Aerospace Research was thus set in place in June to define the priorities of the aerospace industry in European research programme financing (see EUROPE of 21 June, p.15).
The European Parliament has for its part created a new "Sky and Space" intergroup, that brings together MEPs from several political groups under the chairmanship of French Socialist Gilles Savary. Its forthcoming meetings will be devoted to research programmes (5 September), to Galileo (24 October) and to the "Single European Sky" project (12 December).