ERA ASKS EC TO REVISE EUROPEAN AIR TRANSPORT POLICY

10/01/2006

ERA has asked the European Commission to undertake a major revision of the section on air transport in its White Paper on European transport policy. ERA believes the revision must include:

• recognition of the economic and social benefits of air transport to the European Union’s citizens and businesses,
• confirmation of air transport’s role in achieving the employment, productivity and competitiveness for all European citizens and businesses,
• a clearly defined role for air transport within an integrated European transport policy, and
• strategies for ensuring that all the principles of “better governance” are applied to regulatory action for all modes of transport to ensure the global competitiveness of Europe’s air transport industry.

“By defining a clearer role for air transport, emphasising its important social and economic value and applying a fairer regulatory approach across all modes of transport, the European Union’s goals of increased productivity and employment can be achieved,” said Mike Ambrose, ERA director general.

This request is made in ERA's formal submission to the EC's mid-term review of the White Paper which was originally published in September 2001. The submission was prepared by the ERA Directorate with the assistance of former ERA President Fritz Feitl and former ERA Board Members Olaf Dlugi and Kjell Fredheim. The submission is available on www.eraa.org/issues/erapositionpapers.php.
 
                                                           ENDS