The Ministers of Transport have today confirmed the agreement on a set of far-reaching measures in the field of aviation. This package, which will be formally adopted by the Council in the coming weeks, makes the single European sky, makes the European Aviation Safety Agency is responsible for all the links of chain security of aviation and provides an impetus to the implementation of new technologies. Taken together, these measures will result in some flights safer, greener and cost tighter.

Following a favorable vote by the European Parliament last week, the Council has given its approval to the package on the Single European Sky proposed by the Commission. It is estimated that with him, the airlines will save annually about 4,000 million euros, and in addition, the Master Plan for Air Traffic Control will make European industry at the forefront of technology innovation in air traffic management. It will create an efficient infrastructure in Europe, and manufacturers will enjoy a competitive advantage in global markets.

The first pillar introduces several enhancements to the package in the original legislation on the Single European Sky including certain binding targets concerning health care providers of air navigation services, management functions of the network to ensure convergence between national networks, and a definitive date for Member States to improve performance. This includes a process of cooperation and further integration of the providers of air navigation services, through the so-called functional airspace blocks.

The technological pillar focuses on introducing the latest technology. SESAR Program brings together all aviation stakeholders to develop, validate and deploy a management system for next-generation air traffic at European level.

The security pillar gives more powers to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This will have specific regulations, uniform and binding for the operation of airports, air traffic management and air navigation services, as well as proper supervision of their implementation by Member States. These new powers give the Authority a more comprehensive European security and ensure the implementation of common security standards at all stages of flight, from its very inception in the track.

Finally, the mainstay of the capacity approaches the problem of the shortage of runways and airport facilities, which now threatens to become a major bottleneck. The initiative aims to better coordinate the slots granted to aircraft operators by means of air traffic management, and establish an observatory on airport capacity to integrate them fully into the network of aviation.

The new package places the spotlight on environmental issues within the Single European Sky as improving air traffic management entails reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. It is expected that the improvements achieved by 10% per flight, which annually reduces CO2 emissions by 16 million tons and save airspace users 2 400 million.

Given the importance of human capital in the provision of air navigation services, the European institutions have also adopted a declaration stating their intention to work together to involve the staff of aviation in the implementation of the package of measures to to ensure high levels of competition in all categories of staff on security and boost confidence in the mechanism for reporting incidents.