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External Aviation Policy - A Common Aviation Area with the EU’s neighbours
On 1st of October 2008, the European Commission adopted a Communication taking stock of the progress made in the development of a broader Common Aviation Area with the neighbouring countries by 2010. This progress report follows the Council Conclusions of 27 June 2005 "On developing an agenda for the Community’s external aviation policy" and the Communication from the Commission A Community aviation policy towards its neighbours.
The Common Aviation Area fits into the wider objectives of the Community's air transport policy and, together with comprehensive air transport agreements with key global partners of the EU and so called "horizontal agreements", constitutes a key pillar of this policy.
In the context of the enhanced Union for the Mediterranean, and ever closer links between the EU and its eastern neighbours, the Common Aviation Area becomes even more relevant. Its ultimate objective should be the establishment of a single pan-European air transport market, based on a common set of rules and encompassing up to 60 countries with approximately one billion inhabitants.
In 2007 alone, over 120 million passengers travelled between the EU and its neighbouring countries in Europe, East-Europe, Central Asia, the Mediterranean and Middle East, which represents an increase of over 20% compared to 2004. This volume of traffic constitutes over 45% of the air traffic between the EU and third countries.
The European aviation is changing rapidly, with the European Union becoming its main institutional and regulatory driver. This places additional responsibilities on the Community, which should ensure proper involvement of the neighbouring states. Also, key challenges such as maintaining a high level of aviation safety and security, optimisation of Air Traffic Management or combating climate change are not constrained by the borders of the Community, and the neighbouring countries should be invited to participate in the projects deployed to address these challenges.
The Communication adopted by the Commission identifies the significant progress achieved by the Community in pursuing this ambitious objective, takes stock of the lessons learned so far and outlines the challenges ahead.
Related documents
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Legislation
Common Aviation Area - map
[3 MB] Communication from the Commission: A Community aviation policy towards its neighbours [COM(2004)74]
Council Conclusions on developing an agenda for the Community’s external aviation policy
[25 KB] All available translations.
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