Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)

As far as the management and streamlining of Europe's air traffic is concerned, the adoption of the Eurocontrol Convention by 34 states is a massive step forward. At a time of rapidly growing demand in air transport, Europe's scattered air traffic management framework is in urgent need of a fundamental overhaul and full Continent-wide integration. The current critical situation of long and worsening air traffic delays causes massive economic losses to all market participants. This is mainly due to the insufficient co-ordination between air traffic control centres and insufficient route and air space structures across national boundaries.

This can no longer be accepted at a time when passengers should be at the centre of air traffic concerns. It is also a time when Europe's future integration and growth critically depends on efficient but safe air transport. Moreover, technology, in the form of satellite navigation and computer capacity is readily available to make a reality of the concept of the single European sky. Eurocontrol has made valiant efforts to prevent delays from worsening further within the parameters of the current framework.

The new revised Eurocontrol convention to which this Bill will give force of law is a major step forward in the direction of an integrated air traffic management system. This will also entail the separation between air traffic management service providers and a European air traffic management regulatory authority, preferably Eurocontrol itself. It will be responsible for safety, optimal air space use, economic efficiency and interoperability between system components. The full participation of Eurocontrol's widening membership in central and eastern Europe in a single European sky is vital to the Continent's future, including successful EU enlargement. Already, Europe has a tremendously complex and busy airspace, including 560 airports, 450 control sectors and 75 control centres. Europe's airspace is one of the busiest in the world, with more than 9.2 million flights in 2005, which carried some——

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