Single Sky – agreement reached, December 2002

Meeting on 5 December 2002, EU Transport Ministers finally reached agreement on a package of proposals intended to create a 'single European sky'. Welcoming the deal, the European Commissioner for Transport and Energy, Loyola de Palacio, said: 'With the agreement achieved today, the European sky will not be anymore a patchwork of different systems but a genuine continuum'

The package seeks to create a Single Sky by the end of 2004. It consists of a proposal for a framework Regulation setting out the objectives and operating principles of the Single Sky together with proposals for three other Regulations, covering the provision of air navigation services, the organisation and use of airspace, and the interoperability of equipment.

The framework Regulation has six main elements:

• joint management of airspace

• establishment of national supervisory authorities

• gradual integration of civilian and military management

• institutional synergy between the EU and Eurocontrol *

• introduction of appropriate modern technology

• better coordination of human resources policy in the air traffic control sector

* Eurocontrol is the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation; it has 31 members, including all 15 EU Member States.

Moves to create a Single Sky were outlined by the Commission in a 1999 Communication, 'The creation of the single European sky', in which it was stated that: 'The Commission takes the view that the creation of a single European sky cannot just be through common technical and operational solutions; collective management of airspace is needed in the interests of all its users, which must make for substantial reorganisation of its structures and use'

Despite protests at the Commission's formal proposals in October 2001 (including strikes by air traffic controllers in summer 2002) on the grounds that they would lead to privatisation, and concerns over the relationship between the civil Single Sky and the needs of the military, the Commission pressed ahead with its initiative. The present package is based on a report by a High Level Group on the Single European Sky, chaired by Commissioner Loyola de Palacio.

According to the BBC, 'Mrs de Palacio's philosophy is simple - if anyone were to design the European airspace from scratch, they would never come up with the current inefficient patchwork, which dates back to the 1960s and is cracking at the seams'. Although technical developments have helped alleviate congestion by creating additional capacity, the rapid growth in air transport has negated those gains. It is estimated by the Commission that some 25% of EU flights were delayed in 2001.

The Single Sky initiative is therefore seen as essential for modernising the way in which Europe's airspace is managed. The current system, based on national airspace boundaries, is blamed for the increasing number of flights delayed and for putting the safety of aircraft and passengers at risk. Rather than continue basing the management of flights in Europe on national boundaries, the proposals would base it on traffic.

The aim is not only to improve air safety and reduce delays, but to reduce environmental impacts: the current system often requires aircraft to 'zig-zag' between destinations and to wait above airports for a landing space. Both are blamed for increasing fuel consumption.

The Financial Times reported that the military will be exempt from the provisions, 'which will be overridden by the need to carry out military exercises or respond to international tension'. Member States will, however, 'make a non-binding declaration that they will try to co-ordinate the use of military airspace as much as possible'.

The package must now be approved by the European Parliament.

Links:
European Commission:
	05.12.02:	The single European sky takes off: 'A major change in air transport' declares Loyola de Palacio [IP/02/1813]
BBC News Online:
	05.12.02:	EU ministers agree 'single-sky' deal
European Sources Online: Financial Times:
	05.12.02:	Ministers set to agree 'single sky' deal
Eurocontrol:
	Homepage
European Sources Online: In Focus:
	In Focus: Empty skies over Europe as air traffic controllers strike over plans for a Single European Sky

Eric Davies
KnowEurope Researcher
Compiled: Friday, 6 December 2002

A Single European Sky could be established by 2004 after EU transport ministers agreed to a package of proposals on 5 December 2002.