Single sky reform: EC adopts first reading position on efficiency of air space management in EU
Brussels, Belgium (PANA) - With a view to improving the overall efficiency of the way in which European airspace is organised and managed, on Thursday the European Council adopted its position at first reading on the reform of the Single European Sky.
The aim of the reform is to improve the performance, organisation, and management of airspaces in the EU and the provision of the air navigation services to increase capacity, lower costs, and increase the system’s adaptability, while also trying to reduce aviation’s impact on environment and climate.
An official statement elaborated that the Council’s position at first reading retains the key objectives of the Single European Sky: reinforce safety, respond to capacity needs, and help cut CO₂ emissions, while being cost-effective.
The Council's position contained the main elements in line with the provisional agreement between the co-legislators: regarding the scope of the new legislative framework, the application of the regulation without prejudice to member states' sovereignty over their airspace and to the requirements of the member states relating to public order, public security, and defence matters. Consequently, the new regulation does not cover military operations and training.
As far as the provision of air navigation and air traffic services and the organisation of their regulation are concerned: a national supervisory authority is designated by each member state to assess compliance of air navigation service providers with certain requirements, such as financial sustainability and organisational structure, in cooperation with the national competent authority in charge of the certification of air navigation service providers member states may decide to assign those tasks to one or the other authority.
-0- PANA AR/MA 26Sept2024
