EU reaches a provisional agreement on SES rules

The European Union's council presidency and parliament negotiators have reached a provisional agreement on the reform of the Single European Sky (SES). The reform is set to improve the performance, organisation and management of European airspace. It also aims to provide air navigation services with increased capacity, lower costs and increase the system's adaptability while also reducing environmental impact. ""I am delighted with this result, concluded under our presidency, which will enable major progress to be made in reducing CO² emissions from the aviation sector, and will also give member states more tools to limit the nuisance generated by aeronautical activity,"" said Belgian minister for mobility Georges Gilkinet. The legislative package consists of an amended proposal for the recast of the Single European Sky regulation (SES 2+) and a proposal for a regulation amending the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) basic regulation. Airlines for Europe (A4E) managing director Ourania Georgoutsakou said: ""We have been consistent in calling for a SES that delivers for airlines, passengers and the planet. On first look, it seems this agreement is still some way off from this."" Earlier analysis of the SES 2+ from A4E said the ""current compromises fall far short of the ambitious SES that would deliver for passengers, airlines and the environment."" The provisional agreement is now subject to approval by the European council and parliament. Once approved, the draft legislative acts will be reviewed before formal adoption by co-legislators.