Luxembourg, 08/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - Adopting a resolution on 8 June on the formal creation of the SESAR 'common enterprise' (public private partnership, PPP) which will oversee the creation of a European air traffic control system, the Council gave the Commission the go-ahead to publish calls for tender for the PPP.
Under the Commission Regulation adopted on 27 February this year (see EUROPE 9374), the PPP will include the Commission , Eurocontrol (the EU aviation safety body) and private companies to be selected through a call for tender which will be published by the Commission in the summer. Noting the Commission's financial pledge (to provide an estimated €700 million for 2007-2013 from the Seventh Framework Programme for R&D and the trans-European network heading of the EU budget), the Council repeated in its resolution that financial commitments would be required from industry players before the end of 2008. The Commission is asked to prepare a report by March 2008 if possible outlining a draft European air traffic control management mission for SESAR. (aby)