Debate: Decent working and employment conditions in the aviation sector - Impact of the COVID- crisis on aviation
Date: THURSDAY, 8 JULY 2021
Speaker: Adina-Ioana Vălean
Language: EN

On the short-term air traffic recovery, the Commission is giving its priority to the best use of airport capacity and traffic increase. As you are aware, the slot regulation has been amended to decrease the slot usage threshold. The Commission is currently working on a delegated act to extend the slot relief rules for the winter 2021-2022 scheduling season.  The Commission has also proposed a number of measures aiming at facilitating free movement in the EU, including the introduction of the new digital covid certificate. On 28 June this year, the services issued guidance for Member States to facilitate a smooth rollout of the EU digital covid certificate and to harmonise the different national regimes, notably in aviation.  In addition, the state aid temporary framework, adopted in March last year, enables Member States to give support also to the aviation sector. We have extended the temporary framework to enable Member States to use the full flexibility foreseen under the state aid rules to support the economy, including the aviation sector, until the end of this year.  Member States can also compensate undertakings for damages suffered directly as a result of government restrictions put in place to contain the spread of COVD-19, based on Article 107 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.  In addition, Member States may also provide rescue or restructuring support to specific airlines or airports, just as they do with other sectors impacted by the crisis. Furthermore, additional financial support to the sector, including the support of the employees, can be provided from the Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and Territories of Europe, the European Social Fund Plus, or from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers.  To give you an example, the latter has already supported 1 200 displaced workers from the aviation sector in the Netherlands, 500 displaced workers from the aviation sector in Finland, and 1 500 displaced workers in ground handling in Belgium.  As you know, this the Commission is determined to deliver a strong EU special agenda in air transport. Airline practices which constitute abuse of circumvention of applicable law, have no place in the EU’s single market for aviation. The Commission made its position very clear already in the report from March 2019, called Aviation Strategy for Europe: maintaining and promoting high social standards for air crews, the so-called social report.  The conclusions of this report remain valid. Substantial EU and national legislation already protects air crews. However, effective enforcement of these rules, which would avoid abusive practices and ensure a level playing field, depends primarily on the Member States. To support Member States in appropriately enforcing rules, the Commission established an expert group working on social matters related to the air crews.  The expert group has already yielded concrete and important results by delivering three papers. Two of these are published and available in the Commission’s expert group registry website, and the third one will soon be made available as well. It was a reference to that. In the sustainable and smart mobility strategy adopted in December last year, we have reaffirmed the strong commitment towards promoting high social standards in the aviation sector. The strategy stipulates that we will propose a revision of the air service regulation in 2021-2022.  Within this revision, the Commission may propose legislative measures to further clarify or strengthen the effective enforcement by the Member States of relevant national labour law rules in relation to air crews, for instance defining the notion of ‘operational base’, as called for by the expert group on social matters related to air crews. The aim of the proposal will be to support the functioning of the market, not only in normal times but also during sudden and unexpected shocks. So we are committed to deliver a proposal as soon as possible and in line with the Commission’s better regulation standards.  But before we present a proposal, it is therefore crucial to assess the structural impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on the sector and how we can help support the recovery and resilience of aviation in the medium and long term. For that purpose, the Commission services will shortly launch a study to that effect. It will be based on a wide sectoral consultation. And in addition, and in light of the EU’s sustainable, smart mobility strategy, we also need to assess how we can further promote social responsibility as well as environmental sustainability.  Suboptimal rules may result in loss of connectivity, competitiveness in the global aviation market and jobs. So, as I said, we also need to assess how we can further promote social responsibility as well as environmental sustainability while avoiding suboptimal rules.