WRITTEN QUESTION E-2041/99 by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission. Flight delays in the European Union.
Date: 1999-11-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Eurocontrol, European Community, air traffic, air traffic control, competence of the Member States, transport user

1.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 219 E/75

(2000/C 219 E/089)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2041/99

by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Flight delays in the European Union

(3 November 1999)

Air traffic control is said to be the cause of the delays which consistently affect intra-European flights, with
serious personal and financial consequences for passengers and users of freight transport. This problem
also affects the image of airlines, which also suffer considerably from the increasing number of charges
they have to pay for the use of each section of airspace and the heavy costs arising from the amount of
time during which aircraft and their crews are unable to fly.

Will the Commission state what body should be deemed responsible for these serious disruptions and what
measures it can take to remedy or, at least, improve the situation?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 1999)

In application of the provisions of the Chicago Convention, the provision of air traffic services is a
responsibility of States. In view of the difficulties mentioned by the Honourable Member the Commission
has suggested in the past that the Community should act in this field and presented appropriate measures
in two communications (1).

The ATM community and more generally Member States perceived the proposals of the Commission as
unduly interfering with the established regional
(Eurocontrol) and national frameworks where similar
problems were addressed and, according to them, well in hand. In recent years, however, these organisa-
tions have shown their inability to respond adequately to the demand of airspace users in terms of
providing increased capacity and flight efficiency.

The further deterioration of the situation convinced the Council to put the question on the agenda of its
meeting last June 1999 and to invite the Commission to analyse the situation,
identify possible new
initiatives and report back in December 1999.
the Commission has approved on
1 December 1999 a communication to the Council and the Parliament on the current situation of air
traffic delays and on new initiatives to be taken to provide the Community with the air traffic management
system it needs to remedy the existing chaotic situation.

In this context,

In parallel, the Commission is negotiating the accession of the Community to Eurocontrol so that the
Community may become a full member of this international organisation and develop its initiatives within
the institutional framework established at European level.

(1) Communication from the Commission to the Council and the Parliament on congestion and crisis in air traffic
(cid:145)Freeing Europe(cid:146)s airspace(cid:146)

(ATM) white paper

traffic management

(COM(95) 318 final) and the Air
(COM(96) 57 final).

(2000/C 219 E/090)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2043/99

by Jeffrey Titford (EDD) to the Commission

(3 November 1999)

Subject: Expenditure on and legality of the (cid:145)Soul for Europe(cid:146) project

I am concerned about the establishment, purpose, legality and financing of the European Union(cid:146)s (cid:145)Soul for
Europe(cid:146) department.

1. Who (cid:129) which person, group of persons or body (cid:129) set this unit up?

2. What is its precise purpose?