Strasbourg, 03/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, a large majority of the European Parliament adopted two reports on implementation of the European Single Sky on 31 December 2004: - the report by Giovanni Fava (Democratici di Sinistra) on the draft regulation for a framework for the achievement of European Single Sky, and the report by Marieke Sanders-Ten-Holte (Dutch Liberal) on three proposals of technical regulations (provision of air navigation services, organisation and use of air space, and interoperability of the European air traffic control network). The EP also adopted the report by Nelly Maes (Greens/EFA, Belgium) on the draft directive aimed at making third country aircraft that use Community airports subject to stricter rules. Finally, they approved two reports to which EUROPE will return tomorrow: that by Hans Blokland (EDD/NL) on the proposal of directive aimed at creating a Community framework for classifying noise emissions produced by subsonic civilian aircraft in order to calculate levies to be imposed on such emissions, and that of Brian Simpson (British Labour member) on the amended draft regulation on harmonising technical rules and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation (consisting of in a single amendment regulating the flying time of pilots). Results of the vote are:
Fava Report: Adopting the report by 428 to 85 votes, the EP: (1) supports liberalisation of air navigation services while demanding that economic and social aspects be taken into account; (2) recalls that the setting in place of the European Single Sky must be done taking into account the Member States' defence imperatives (see EUROPE of 20 July, p.14). A very large majority of MEPs (408 against, 100 for) rejected an amendment by the EDD Group calling for the Commission's proposal to quite simply be rejected.
Sanders-ten-Holte Report: With the adoption of the report on three technical regulations on the provision of air navigation services (406 for, 87 against) and the interoperability of the air traffic control system (434 for, 36 against), MEPs endorsed the possibility for national authorities to choose between private and public service providers while insisting on security features being taken into account. MEPs also adopted an amendment by the Socialist Group doing away with the possibility for a service provider to resort to other providers for supplementary services (such as meteorological services), in order to avoid competition between these services. MEPs also took a stance in favour of close cooperation with civilian and military players and between Member States and Eurocontrol (see EUROPE of 20 July, p.14). MEPs rejected an amendment by the EDD Group calling for the Commission's proposal to be rejected, an amendment by the PES calling for social partners to be duly involved and consulted on harmonisation of procedures concerning inspectors and air traffic control staff, and several amendments by the GUE/NGL Group aimed at giving preference to public actors for the provision of air navigation services.
Maes Report: MEPs approved this report which calls for rules to be strengthened regarding third country aircraft using EU airports. It rejected two amendments, however. One calls for security controls to be carried out on each aircraft after 350 hours of flight, and the other calls for improvements regarding the diffusion of information to travellers (see EUROPE of 19 July, p.14).
During the debate, all political groups firmly expressed their support of the reports while Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio pointed out that the Commission rejected several Parliament amendments. Thus, with regards the Fava and Sanders Reports, the Commission rejects the amendments on cooperation between the Member States and Eurocontrol, the notion of public service (considering that "account must also be taken of the needs of the sectors concerned") and cooperation between civilian and military. Concerning the Maes Report, Ms de Palacio pointed out that the Commission could not agree to certain amendments, including that aimed at involving the European Air Safety Authority.
Mr Fava, in response to the Commission, declared that, until Community accession to Eurocontrol was an acquired fact, "close cooperation with Eurocontrol was indispensable". He also insisted on the cooperation that is needed between the civilian and military actors, and called for a military representative from each Member Sate to be present within the future committee on Single Sky. Ms Sanders-ten-Holte supported the same position on the role of Eurocontrol and on the cooperation between civilian and military players. Regarding the liberalisation of air navigation services, she said that
"the single sky does not mean creeping privatisation" and that, "many Member States believe that these services should rest public, such as Denmark". Ms Maes pointed out that she considered that, "the risk of accidents is low within the EU but high in third countries, such as in Eastern Europe". "A minimum structure is needed to avoid competition distortions", she added. Speaking on behalf of the German EPP/DE group, Ingo Schmitt congratulated the rapporteurs "for their excellent reports full of good sense" and thanked Ms de Palacio for "her determination to bring the case to a close". He was surprised by opposition to certain amendments. "The proposal will allow progress in security, economics and the environment", declaring that, "in five or ten years, I want a single area managed by a European authority". Ulrich Stockmann (PES Germany) declared that "the single sky is as important for air space as the Euro was for the economic area". Speaking for the Liberals, Italian MEP, Luciano Caveri called on the Council to "make efforts because many Member States are still opposed to the single sky". He stressed "the sensitive political aspects" of the dossier and pointed out that, "there is no question of bringing into question the sovereignty of Member States…the liberalisation of certain navigation services does not means full-scale privatisation…civil and military co-operation is crucial". The only group opposed to the FAVA and Sanders reports came from the GUE/NGL. French MEP, Sylviane Ainardi believed that, "adding amendments defending the notions of public services… did not change the liberal slant of the paper". The MEP regretted the rejection of the amendment from his group and proposed rejecting all references to the principle of competition and that, "if the paper is not modified, my group will not support it". Dutch MEP Rijk van Dam announced that his group (Europe of Democracies and Differences supported the reports. Greek Socialist, Emmanouil Mastorakis whilst agreeing with the central elements of the reports insisted that they take into account "local specificities". "In my country for example, the single area will pose an institutional problem", he explained, while also requesting that they take into account defence considerations. British Conservative, Jacqueline Foster, slightly tempered the unity of her group by stating that, "certain measures will duplicate jobs… and are a danger, as they endanger a pan-European system based on Eurocontrol, which functions very well". After listening to MEPs, Loyola de Palacio concluded that, "I am confident that the Danish Presidency will finish the dossier and respect the deadline in 2004". She also pointed out that nobody wanted to cast aside Eurocontrol, but Eurocontrol did not have the competence to manage the single European sky. On privatisation of certain navigation services, the Commissioner stated quite unequivocally, "I am sick of always repeating the same thing: this is not about privatising but of regulating air traffic." She was quite sure about one other controversial point, "we do not want to reduce the defence capability or national sovereignty", she said whilst acknowledging that the issue of co-operation between civil and military actors which was a thorny issue.