WRITTEN QUESTION P-2672/03 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Allocation of slots at airports.
Date: 2003-09-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: air transport, airline, common transport policy, competition, regional transport, transport planning

C 78 E/416

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

(2004/C 78 E/0437)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2672/03

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(2 September 2003)

Subject: Allocation of slots at airports

When will the Commission conclude its consultations on proposed revisions to the 1993 regulation on the
allocation of slots at Community airports, when does it expect to publish its proposals, and is it the
Commission’s intention to address the issue of major airlines exercising grandfather rights to the detriment
of the development of regional airports and free competition between airlines?

Article 9 of the existing regulation gives Member States the option to reserve slots for regional routes.
What is the maximum and minimum percentage of slots so reserved at airports across the EU, and under
what circumstances can the Commission intervene to prevent, or to insist on, slots being so allocated?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(26 September 2003)

The Commission has adopted a proposal to modify the current rules on airport slot allocation on 20 June
2001 (1). Following the opinion of the Parliament in First Reading (2) the Commission modified its initial
proposal on 7 November 2002 (3). The Council has yet to produce a Common Position on that proposal.
Therefore, the conclusion of consultations on proposed revisions depend on the adoption of the Common
Position.

Also, as announced in the explanatory memorandum to its initial proposal, the Commission has launched
a study to assess the effects of different slot allocation schemes. This study has yet to be finalised. On the
basis of this study and further consultation with the industry and Member States, the Commission will
consider how to further possibly modify the current system of slot allocation based on the principle of
grandfather rights.

As far as the application of Article 9 of the current Regulation (4) is concerned, there are no minimum or
maximum amounts for slots which Member States have the right to reserve at fully coordinated airports
for the purpose of regional services. However, Member States have to communicate to the Commission the
routes for which slots have been reserved. This should ensure that reserved slots correspond effectively to
routes to a peripheral development region, and/or routes where public service obligations have been
imposed.

(1) OJ C 270 E, 25.9.2001.
(2) A5-0186/2002, rapporteur Stockmann of 10 June 2002.
(3) COM(2002) 623 final.
(4) Council Regulation (EEC) No 95/93 of 18 January 1993 on common rules for the allocation of slots at Community

airports, OJ L 14, 22.1.1993.

(2004/C 78 E/0438)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2689/03

by Toine Manders (ELDR) to the Commission

(10 September 2003)

Subject: GSM roaming tariffs

The Commission has possibly been asked many questions on this subject. Given that, despite previous
efforts, an internal market for mobile phone communications has, unfortunately, still not been established,
I wish to put the following further question.