The committee adopted the report by Erna HENNICOT-SCHOEPGES (EPP-ED, LU) amending - under the consultation procedure - the proposed Council regulation on the establishment of a Joint Undertaking to develop the new generation European air traffic management system (SESAR):
- a new paragraph was added to Article 1 with the aim of clearly defining the three phases of SESAR (a "definition phase", a "development phase" and a "deployment phase") in terms of time-scale and of what should be achieved. The Commission should submit a legislative proposal establishing the third phase;
- the committee introduced a review clause, which it deemed necessary judging from the experience of the GALILEO Joint Undertaking;
- whereas the Commission had proposed that the seat of the Joint Undertaking should be located in Brussels, MEPs said that the decision on the seat should be taken by the European Council, in accordance with the principles underlying the decision on the seat of Agencies as set out in Council Regulation No 58/2003;
- the committee deleted the provision allowing for an additional levy on air navigation charges, arguing that user charges would already contribute to the programme via Eurocontrol and that a successful definition phase should deliver a clear business case triggering the necessary private investment (and public funding);
- a new Article 5a was introduced stipulating that the accession of new members to the Joint Undertaking, including members from non-EU countries, should be subject to the approval of Parliament and the Council;
- Parliament and the Council should be kept fully informed of the results and working methods of the Joint Undertaking;
- Parliament should have observer status on the Administrative Board. The committee also proposed a better balance of representation and weighting of votes within the Board, linked to the financial contribution of each representative;
- the report introduced a number of legal provisions adopted by Parliament with regard to the proposed regulation on the term of office of the Executive Director of the European GNSS Supervisory Authority (see CNS/2005/0084): the Commission, after consulting Parliament's representative, should present the Board with a list of three possible candidates. The term of office should be five years, renewable for a maximum period of three years;
- lastly, the committee introduced a new provision in the Annex with a view to clarifying the concept of conflict of interest.