Brussels, 21/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - Last week in Strasbourg the European Parliament adopted the report of Ulrich Stockman (German Social Democrat) at its first reading (co-decision), on the draft proposal on the allocation of slots at Union airports. The Parliament approved the majority of amendments to the report (see EUROPE 3-4 June 2002 p 18). It is insisting on the need to strengthen the independence of the co-ordinator, the flexibility of slot planning for transport providers, the option of Member States to intervene and slot allocation methods.
The Co-ordinator: Has exclusive decision-making powers and is not responsible or "obliged to carry out repairs". Transport Commissioner, Loyola de Palacio accepted this last amendment on the condition that the Co-ordinator is held responsible in cases of serious negligence or deliberate tortious intent.
Planning flexibility: Transport providers must be able to re-programme their rights in the area of slotting activity. The field covering dispensation and the use of slots must be expanded to take into account extraordinary events (attacks). However, while fully according air transport providers a certain flexibility, Parliament considers that after a prior notice, Member States will be able to take measures in cases of voluntary or repeated use of air services at different slotting times or in cases where aircraft use the slot that has already been allocated to another air transport provider
Member States' intervention option: Parliament wants to strengthen their role, particularly in affording them greater room for manoeuvre with regard to granting rights to a different number of slot allocations if an airport's situation deems it necessary.
Slot allocation: 1) Parliament wants to facilitate access to the slot market for new players by authorising liaison exchanges between air transport providers and by allowing new players who refuse less attractive slots to keep their statute for the said slot. Loyola de Palacio believes that this last point is incompatible with global practices in this domain. 2) Parliaments is also against the idea of the Co-ordinator being able to give priority to air transport providers when other means of transport liaison could be guaranteed because "the commercial decision to liase ought to be an option offered by the air transport provider". The Commissioner rejected this amendment, which she considers as an obstacle to inter-modal objectives and providing a public service. 3) Parliament recognised the managerial function of the airport and the right of the Co-ordinator to call for rules to be laid down governing written procedures and put forward local guidelines during slot allocation. It considers, however, that bodies representing local passengers have no power to intervene with regard to these decisions, which the Commission rejects in the belief that this changes the objective of achieving a balanced proposal.
Co-ordinated airport statute: (airports where a co-ordinator has been appointed to facilitate air transport operations). Ms de Palacio is against this Parliamentary amendment allowing the co-ordinated airport to be selected for a limited time period or in exceptional situations. She considers that it is necessary to initially analyse the capacity of the airport before timetables are worked out.