WRITTEN QUESTION E-3861/97 by Kirsi Piha (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1997)

Subject: Air traffic in the EU's air space

Air traffic in the EU has grown from year to year and is still growing. The air space has become crowded and 'air misses' are becoming more common. What does the Commission propose to do to ensure that the growth in air traffic in the EU area does not lead to an environment more susceptible to accidents as a result of air space congestion, and how has it prepared for the growth in air traffic from the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in the near future?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (22 January 1998)

The Commission is not aware of any sustained trend in the Community of an increased occurrence of air-misses which could indicate a deterioration in the level of safety in air traffic. However the Commission shares the concerns of the Honourable Member about the possible future consequences of the steady growth in air traffic and the related congestion of infrastructure and air space.

That is why the Commission considers that the Community should play a prominent role in air traffic management (ATM) as part of its air transport policy and has consequently taken several relevant policy initiatives including the following:

1. The fourth framework programme for research and technological development (FPRD) ((COM(93) 459 final. )) has, as the aviation industries recognise, made a large contribution to supporting the development of new tools and concepts for ATM. The Commission will continue with these efforts during the fifth FPRD ((OJ C 173, 7.6.1997. )) so that further technical solutions can be found to cope with the increase in traffic.

2. Following the conclusions of the 1994 Essen European Council, the Commission has been giving a high priority to ATM projects in the allocation of the trans-European transport network budget in order to assist the investments required to increase air traffic control capacity.

3. The Commission has taken several initiatives to support a significant re-organisation of the present institutional framework in which air traffic is managed at European level. This was the aim of the 1996 ATM white paper ((COM(96) 57 final. )) and of the recommendation made by the Commission for a Council decision authorizing the Commission to start negotiations with a view to establishing Community membership of Eurocontrol. These initiatives have been largely supported by the Parliament in various resolutions over recent years and have certainly helped Eurocontrol in gaining the necessary powers and efficiency which are now enshrined in the revised Eurocontrol Convention signed on 27 June 1997 when enables it to act as the single body in Europe responsible for the safe and efficient use of European airspace.

This is equally valid for central and eastern European countries which are now joining Eurocontrol but have for years been associated, through the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), with the joint efforts developed in Europe to harmonise and integrate the various ATM systems.

It is also in this framework that these countries have received advice from Eurocontrol for upgrading their systems, with the financial support of the Community Phare programme.