Groundhandling services at Union airports

The Commission presented to the Council three legislative proposals relating to different areas of airport activities: ground handling services, the allocation of slots and rules on the reduction of noise. The aim of the package, which also includes a communication on airport policy, is to address two key challenges: capacity at airports and the quality of airport services. More generally, it is intended to contribute to the implementation of the Single European Sky (SES) initiative.

The incoming Danish presidency considers the airport package a priority.

The Council also took note of information provided by the Commission on the implementation of the regulatory framework of the Single European Sky.  The Commission drew ministers' attention to its report on this issue published in November and stressed that 2012 would be pivotal for the implementation of the SES with key challenges to be addressed in a number of areas: the establishment of functional airspace blocks (FAB) grouping together two or more Member States in order to achieve better air traffic management; improvement of performance plans; network management; and preparations for the deployment of SESAR.