|
EC MUST ACT ON NEW AVIATION REPORT
06/07/2007
Europe’s airlines need to see the European Commission (EC) act on the recommendations of an encouraging new aviation report, according to the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
The report of the High Level Group (HLG) appointed by EC Vice-President Barrot recognises that air transport is an important enabler of economic growth and a significant source of employment and technological innovation. The report also recommends that the EC focuses on the urgent need for regulatory change and accelerates the effective delivery of existing initiatives.
ERA director general Mike Ambrose says: “Europe’s airlines should welcome the HLG’s report, which has now provided a clear vision defining how to simplify and increase the effectiveness of the regulatory framework for aviation in Europe. The report outlines procedures and action to overcome existing failings and to provide for future development. It also underlines that a more efficient European ATM system will ultimately deliver significant environmental benefits.”
The HLG report confirms that performance and governance of air traffic management infrastructure providers must be strengthened, delivery of the Single European Sky and SESAR initiatives should be accelerated and airspace users must become more involved in decision-making in areas that directly affect them.
Ambrose agrees, saying: “Industry must be allowed more involvement in a better rulemaking process for the aviation system. Governance of service provision functions should be realigned to give industry greater responsibilities within a harmonised regulatory framework.”
He continues: “The HLG recommendations to separate economic regulation of Air Navigation Service Providers from service provision and to investigate opportunities for unbundling of services that might be more suited to open competition are very welcome and urgently needed. However, two particular recommendations made by the HLG are of fundamental importance, namely the need to facilitate, within safety-related activities, the uniform application of ‘just culture’ principles and for states and regulators to diligently apply the principles of Better Regulation.”
Ambrose concludes: “The HLG calls upon the Commission and states to commit to implement the recommendations that it has made, for example, the earliest top-down implementation of functional airspace blocks to eliminate inefficiencies caused by fragmentation in the European aviation system. Europe’s airlines and future air passengers will pay a high penalty if they do not do so.”
Please click on the following link to access the European Commission’s press release which contains a link to the full report:
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1033&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Founded in 1980, ERA is the recognised representative body for intra-European air transport. It currently represents 65 airlines and over 140 Associate and Affiliate members, including airframe and engine manufacturers, airports, suppliers and service providers from all over Europe. For further information, please contact: Lesley Shepherd, Manager, Corporate Communications | Tel: +44 (0)1276 485578 | Fax: +44 (0)1276 857038 | Mobile: +44 (0)7713 984793 | View ERA press releases at: http://www.eraa.org/news/erapressreleases/index.php
|
