Open Letter to the Permanent Representations of the Member States to the EU and to the Members of the Single Sky Committee

 

ATCEUC acknowledges the Commission Implementing Decision nr. 2021/891 of 2 June 2021 setting revised Union-wide performance targets for RP3 in the light of the ongoing COVID crisis and hereby shares its view of the process and its final results.

ATCEUC observes that the final targets in the Key Performance Area of Cost- Efficiency are quite far from what the PRB has advised the European Commission (EC) to submit to the Single Sky Committee (SSC) on its 78th meeting. Furthermore, we also remind you that the EC was unable to submit an acceptable proposal not only during the entire 78th SSC meeting but also during the informal SSC meeting held on the 16th of April 2021.

The approved targets are less harmful to the European ATM System and ATCEUC praises the Member States’ Representatives for their engagement with the sector and their commitment to safety in the Single European Sky. It is a positive sign to see the States taking actions to protect the entire European community.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the EC: ATCEUC has pointed out in the past that EC’s intentions seem to be biased regarding the safety-focused infrastructural ATM Sector, taking every opportunity to impose irrational cost- cutting measures that only favour the airlines’ profit-based market. Using the COVID-19 crisis to severely endanger the financial stability of the European Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) is the latest and scariest sign of it. We will continue to raise the alarm when assessing future proposals from the EC, unless there is a reversal of its biased approach.

ATCEUC observes the difference between the initial proposal from the EC and the Member States’ approved targets as an obvious proof that the PRB and the 

EC are too far from reality when assessing the fundamentals of the ATM Sector, its needs and its ability to cope with the ongoing crisis.

ATCEUC invites the members of the PRB and the members of the DG MOVE Single European Sky Unit to acknowledge the obvious lesson from this process and to finally listen to the ATM Personal Staff Organizations and ANSP’s Representatives in the future, when suggesting fundamental changes. As front- line operators in ATM, representing both ATCOs and ATSEPs, we know first- hand what needs to be done or to be avoided in our sector and we are also the first to realize when the required conditions for safety are not met.

Tags: ATCEUC