WRITTEN QUESTION E-1168/01 by Pere Esteve (ELDR) to the Commission. Lack of air traffic controllers.
Date: 2001-04-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: air traffic, air traffic control, air transport, labour shortage, vocational training

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/85

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2001)

The Commission does not currently intend to promote a uniform scheme in all Member States specifically
for rating video games. At Community level, games are already covered by Council Recommendation
98/560/EC of 24 September 1998 on the development of
the European
information and audiovisual services industry by promoting national frameworks aimed at achieving
a comparable and effective level of protection of minors and human dignity (1).

the competitiveness of

The evaluation report
from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the
application of Council Recommendation of 24 September 1998 concerning the protection of minors and
human dignity (2) notes that the Recommendation was applied consistently across the Member States and
that most of their activities in this area related to the use of the Internet. It concludes that the challenges
with respect to the protection of minors and human dignity are to be met across all media: the Internet,
radio and television, video games, video cassettes and digital video discs (DVDs).

The Commission will examine the need for Community action in this field as part of the revision of the
(cid:145)Television without Frontiers(cid:146) Directive planned for 2002.

(1) OJ L 270, 7.10.1998.
(2) COM(2001) 106 final.

(2001/C 350 E/092)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1168/01

by Pere Esteve (ELDR) to the Commission

(19 April 2001)

Subject: Lack of air traffic controllers

European air traffic management and control is one of the major challenges which the EU has taken up.
The move towards harmonising air traffic control means that proper training to cope with the new
situation is required, given the significance of the human factor and the sheer importance of the work of
air traffic controllers.

What is required is the introduction of a European air traffic controllers(cid:146) diploma.

Furthermore, while current figures show that this highly specialised workforce is between 800 and 1 600
short of a total of 15 000, this situation is forecast to deteriorate in the immediate future due to the
number of retirements coming up.

Given the new situation looming, what steps is the Commission going to take to deal with the lack of air
traffic controllers and the need to update and provide suitable training?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(25 June 2001)

The situation described by the Honourable Member was discussed by the High Level Group on the
creation of the Single European Sky as one of the strategic issues to be addressed at the European level as
a matter of urgency. The Group(cid:146)s report is available at (cid:145)http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/themes/air/
english/single_eur_sky_en.html(cid:146).

The Commission is currently preparing proposals to give effect to the report. These proposals will include
measures to alleviate the shortage of air traffic controllers by stimulating training and mobility and to
initiate the harmonisation of controller licences.