Conclusion of the European aviation summit
Patrick Gandil, Dominique Bussereau
© Laurent Mignaux-MEEDDAT
- On: 19.11.2008
- In: Bordeaux
This environmentally-focused summit particularly took account of the context of financial crisis and the economic slowdown. It brought together all actors from the aviation sector and was the opportunity to sign two major European agreements:
- the declaration of intent of the Functional Airspace Block (FAB) "Central Europe" which brings together French airspace with those of Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. This association will be beneficial in terms of safety, environment, capacity and cost-reduction;
- the Joint Technology Initiative "Clean Sky" agreements which will provide funding for research and development projects on latest technologies to bolster the competitiveness of the European aeronautical industry.
While assuring the participants of the full and total commitment of France to the different research and development programmes, Bussereau reiterated the major aims of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union:
- the continuation of the SESAR programme (Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research), a vast air-traffic control modernisation project in Europe;
- the revision of the first "Single European Sky" package;
- the extension of the competencies of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Bussereau believes that the pursuit of these projects is essential to the sustainable development of air transport. The ambitious aims for pollution reduction however will only be reached by including aviation in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) mechanism.
The European Union's objective is now to persuade all the Member States of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to adopt this mechanism at a global level and to ensure that it does not threaten the fragile economic balance of the air transport sector.
According to Dominique Bussereau, "the aviation sector has several challenges ahead: those of the economy, energy and the environment. However, the progress of European programmes make me confident in Europe's ability to meet these challenges. By uniting our forces, we will enable our aviation manufacturers to remain competitive in the global market."
European Aviation Summit: the environment at the core of the debate (Announcement)
- Updated: 27.12.2008
