Single European Sky: interoperability of the European traffic management network

2001/0237(COD)
PURPOSE : to present a proposal for a regulation on the interoperability of the European Air Traffic management network. CONTENT : the objective of this proposal for a regulation is to achieve interoperability within Community territory between the different systems and constituents of the air traffic management network, and make use of the possibilities offered by new technologies. The Community has decision-making mechanisms allowing for harmonisation and standardisation at European level. To achieve this, the Commission proposes a text enshrining the principle of standardisation in the field of air traffic management, on its own initiative (subject to compliance with international commitments already given). The objective is to put in place an instrument which will be effective and comprehensive. But it must also be rapid and flexible to allow harmonised Europe-wide definition and implementation of the technical regulations necessary. The proposes regulatory framework approach foresees three different levels: - the adoption of essential requirements and specific requiremetns for all stakeholders engaged in the development, production and operation systems; - establishment of implementation rules to enforce these requirements. The objective of this level is to secure compliance with operational and technical developments when this is required by their cross-border nature and therefore the need for integrated operations. The implementation of rules may in particular impose on the new operators concerned a taget date for the entry into force of new concepts or technological advances; - drafting of European standards and/or EUROCONTROL technical specifications representing the lower level of the regulatory process and implying the consensual agreement of stakeholders on standards of voluntray application. Procedures to eloborate the above mentioned requirements and standards must reflect their mandatory or voluntary nature. Therefore, the Commission proposes that the implementation rules are established on the basis of the work carried out by EUROCONTROL. With regard to European standards, they are established by consensus, subject to the public inquiry and approved by recognised European Standardisation Organisation, in collaboration with Eurocae, the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment. These standards will have to be taken over unchanged in the national standards. At product level, manufacturers are required to make a declaration of conformity with essential requirements. The conformity to essential requirements with additional certification by the authorities. To be able to make this declaration or depart from the standards, manufacturers will have to submit a dossier to a notified body which will certify conformity of the product with the essential requirements. This approach will allow the free circulation of products within the EU and create the conditions for a genuinely competitive environment among manufacturers. It is important that the Community airspace should enjoy the benefit of the solutions owhich are bets both technically andcommercially and which are best suited to airspace users and passengers. To this end, the Commission proposes that: - the financial aid procedures for the Trans-European networks programme and the fifth programme for research and development (1998-2002) should be optimised. A framework should be provided for projects of common interest through the new programme for research and technological development (2003-2006) under which aeronautical research is a priority.�