Empty skies over Europe as air traffic controllers strike over plans for a Single European Sky, June 2002

The skies over Europe will be exceptionally quiet on 19 June 2002 as air traffic controllers in 10 European countries stage a protest against the EU's plans for a Single European Sky. The strikes are set to be particularly effective because most of those attending the Seville European Council are traveling on the 19 June as a general strike is already scheduled to take place in Spain on 20 June, the day before the summit begins.

The air traffic controllers are protesting against the EU 'Single European Sky' proposal which they fear could lower safety standards, lead to job losses and privatisation. Under the legislative proposals adopted by the European Commission in October 2001 a Single European Sky would be established by 31 December 2004 whereby new zones of control based on international air corridors would replace national airspaces. The European Commission argues that such a plan is needed to reduce the congestion of airport infrastructures and eliminate or at least shorten the delays on flights around Europe. The Commission also argues that the plan would help to improve safety but air traffic controllers fear the exact opposite - they claim that single market rules are being favoured at the expense of safety standards.

In a letter to ministers ahead of the Transport Council on 17 June 2002 the ATCEUC, a federation based in Aix-en-Provence which represents air traffic controllers' unions across Europe, made it quite clear that they would take industrial action on the 19 June unless the Transport Council agreed to take measures which would enhance Safety and Capacity, two essential issues of the Air Traffic Control System. The federation re-iterated that they were not opposed to a 'Safe European Sky' but claimed that the proposed regulations would:

'Turn the European skies into a market in which the only prevailing element is competition between providers, and in which the only element worth fighting for is cost effectiveness'.

French air traffic controllers are leading the strike with a 24 hour stoppage but they are supported to by their counterparts in Portugal, Greece and Hungary who will strike for four hours while air traffic controllers in six other European countries will be working to rule. Even countries such as the UK, whose air traffic controllers are not striking, will be seriously affected.

Although the European Commission claims that the air traffic controllers' misgivings are not justified and the plan is not an attempt at privatisation through the back door, the ATCEUC has made it quite clear that it will take further action while it fears that the safety of Europe's skies is compromised.

Links:

European Commission:

• DG Transport: Single European Sky

ATCEUC:

• 11.06.02: Letters to the Ministers of transport of the European Union

European Sources Online: Financial Times:

• 18.06.02: France opposes airspace plans

BBC News Online:

• 18.06.02: Air travel hit by strike chaos

European Sources Online:

• In Focus: Europe's airlines in crisis

Helen Bower
Compiled: Wednesday, 19 June 2002

Air traffic controllers in 10 European countries striked on 19 June 2002 in protest against the EU 'Single European Sky' proposal which they fear could lower safety standards, lead to job losses and privatisation.