The high level group on the future of regulation in the field of aviation – set up in 2006 on the initiative of the Vice-President of the Commission and Commissioner for Transport Jacques Barrot – presented its “Action Plan for a system of management of integrated air traffic at the EU level” in Brussels on 6 July. Ten recommendations are made in the document, aimed at helping to improve the so-called European Single Sky in force since 2004, in view of the imminent reform of EU legislation in this field which ought to lead to the implementation of a common regulatory structure. The recommendations made in the report include a request for greater participation of users (“who fund the system”) in the decision-making processes, the nomination of a “European coordinator of air transport systems”, the end of the fragmentation of the provision of services which involves a “pointless financial burden” both for the air companies and for passengers) and the taking into consideration of the environmental questions that are not contemplated by the single sky directive.
