IP/09/477

Brussels, 25 March 2009

The Commission welcomes today's decision of the European Parliament to support the Single European Sky package

The European Parliament approved today the second legislative package for the Single European Sky (SES II). The texts approved by the Parliament are the result of very fruitful discussions with the Czech Presidency. The Council should formalise the final adoption of the legislative package very soon. These measures will deliver safer, greener and more performing flights, with annual savings for airlines calculated around four billion euros by 2020.

European Commissioner Vice-President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Transport, said: "We are sending a strong signal to our citizens, those working in the aviation sector and the industry itself. These proposals lead to a modernisation of air traffic management which will render air transport more feasible, more sustainable and safer."

The European aviation market and its customers will benefit from the enhanced competence of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). At the same time European manufacturing industry and workers in this field of activity will gain from being at the forefront of innovation in air traffic management technology (i.e. satellite based systems - Galileo, data link, etc.), thus giving it a competitive edge on global markets.

For further information see

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air/index_en.htm