NEW EU AVIATION STRATEGY

The new EU Aviation Strategy focuses on economic growth, high-value jobs and good connections, worldwide and within Europe.  

The Commission has therefore identified three key priorities:

1. Tapping into growth markets, by improving services, market access and investment opportunities with third countries, whilst guaranteeing a level playing field;
2. Tackling limits to growth in the air and on the ground, by reducing capacity constraints and improving efficiency and connectivity;
3. Maintaining high EU safety and security standards, by shifting to a risk and performance based mind-set;

In this context, EU actions in the following areas are also needed:

1. Reinforcing the social agenda and creating high quality jobs in aviation;
2. Protecting passenger rights;
3. Embracing a new era of innovation and digital technologies;
4. Contributing to a resilient Energy Union and a forward-looking Climate Change Policy.

EC Specific Actions Plan

• Recommends to the Council the issuance of authorisations to negotiate comprehensive EU-level air transport agreements with the following countries and regions: China, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE (United Arab Emirates), Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Mexico and Armenia.
• Recommends that the EU negotiates further bilateral aviation safety agreements with important aeronautical manufacturing nations such as China and Japan.
• Proposes to launch new aviation dialogues with important partners such as India.
• Will negotiate  effective fair competition provisions in the context of the negotiation of EU comprehensive air transport agreements and consider measures to address unfair practices from third countries and third country operators.
• Proposes to publish interpretative guidelines on the application of Regulation 1008/2008 with respect to the provisions on the ownership and control of EU airlines to bring more legal certainty for investors and airlines alike.
• Urges the European Parliament and the Council to swiftly adopt the Single European Sky (SES 2+) proposals and will continue to work with the Member States and other stakeholders towards the full implementation of the Single European Sky.
• Will assess the necessity to review the Airport Charges Directive.
• Will work with the Airport Observatory to monitor trends of both intra-EU and extra-EU connectivity in Europe, identify any shortcomings and the appropriate measures to be taken.
• Will publish interpretative guidelines explaining the current rules governing Public Service Obligations.
• Proposes a revised Basic Regulation for common rules in the field of civil aviation safety, replacing the current Regulation (EC) No 216/2008.
• Presents a revised European Aviation Safety Programme document, describing the way in which safety is managed in Europe today.
• Support social dialogue, in particular through the sectorial social committee on civil aviation.
• Strengthen its analysis on jobs and employment in aviation with Member States and open it to interested parties.
• Publish a practice guide on applicable labour law and the competent court, to be issued by the European Judicial Network in civil and commercial matters.
• Consider the need for further clarification of applicable law and competent courts vis-à-vis employment contracts of mobile workers in aviation.
• Proposes a basic legal framework for the safe development of drone operations in the EU, as part of the new basic aviation safety Regulation replacing Regulation 216/2008.
• Will task the European Aviation Safety Agency with preparing more detailed rules which will allow the drone operations and the development ofd industry standards.