COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 17 November 1995 on problems caused by congestion and crisis situations in air traffic in Europe (95/C 317/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Considering that air traffic management is of vital importance for the development of European air transport;

Considering that air transport has a key role to play in economic development and strengthening social cohesion, providing swift and efficient links between regions and in particular in making peripheral and island regions accessible;

Considering that air traffic congestion imposes serious losses and inconvenience both for airlines and creates economic obstacles for air traffic within the European Union, while causing inconvenience for users in general;

Considering that such congestion reaches seasonal peaks in particular for given traffic flows and considering that saturation of the air space and reduction of available air traffic control capacity are two of the primary causes of this congestion;

Considering that an unexpected or unplanned loss of civil air traffic control capacity over an extended period can lead to a crisis;

Considering that better utilization of available air traffic control capacity could reduce congestion and prove useful in cutting costs;

Considering that the Council, in its resolution of 18 July 1989 (1) and in its conclusions of 29 March 1990 and 7 December 1992, has already addressed air traffic system capacity problems, by calling for an effort to make progress towards their solution;

Considering that Directive 93/65/EEC (2) dealt with the definition and utilization of compatible technical specifications for the procurement of air-traffic-management equipment and systems;

Considering the communication from the Commission on congestion and crisis in air traffic presented to the Council on 4 September 1995;

Considering the vital role in air traffic management and organization played by such international organizations as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the European Civil Aviation Commission (ECAC) and the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol);

Considering that European Union action should try to avoid duplication of work and activities already being carried out by those organizations;

Considering that this resolution does not prejudge the distribution of powers between the Member States, the European Union and the appropriate international organizations and is without prejudice to the imperatives of public security and public policy and of defence;

CALLS UPON MEMBER STATES of the European Union which are not yet members of Eurocontrol to join as soon as possible in order to make existing and future action more effective;

WELCOMES the existence of a 'crisis management unit` within Eurocontrol and resolves to support its activity;

DECLARES THAT IT IS FAVOURABLE TO the study of the arrangements existing within each of the European Union Member States for minimum ATM (3) services in crisis situations. The purpose of the study is to define, if necessary, in conjunction with all partners involved, the guidelines of the most effective minimum services in case of crisis and to encourage the coordination of national contingency plans.

The Council accordingly calls upon the Member States, Eurocontrol and the Commission, to coordinate positions with a view to carrying out this study;

NOTES and supports the action by the Central Flow Management Unit of Eurocontrol to improve traffic flows in Europe and invites this organization to review as a matter of urgency priority rules in congestion and to examine crisis situations and the possibilities for improving planning taking into account the legislation concerning the allocation of slots;

NOTES that the Commission intends to present its White Paper on air traffic management by the end of 1995.

(1) OJ No C 189, 26. 7. 1989, p. 3.

(2) OJ No L 187, 29. 7. 1993, p. 52.

(3) Air Traffic Management.