EU MEMBER STATES ASKED TO AGREE SWIFTLY TO IMPLEMENT THE SECOND SINGLE EUROPEAN SKY PACKAGE

During a joint presentation of the EESC opinion and the European Parliament’s reports on the Single European Sky II (SES II) and the reform of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the participants - including Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Transport - stressed the importance of approving the package before the European Parliament elections in June.

The economic and financial crisis hitting the aviation sector means that it is even more urgent for the SES II to be adopted and implemented rapidly. The package’s goal is fourfold: to update legislation to improve the traffic control system, to extend the competences of the European Aviation Safety Agency to the field of aerodrome safety, to enhance the SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) and to improve the management of airport infrastructure. In face of so many changes, the Council of Ministers has expressed serious reservations about the Commission’s proposals included in the SES II package. ”I consider that achieving a Single European Sky is of utmost importance - even more now when we are facing a period of economic difficulty - with benefits for both industry and passengers alike. This is why SES II is one of my main priorities. It is vital to get the package approved before the European elections so that citizens can benefit from this reform as quickly as possible,“ said Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani.