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Agreement on Single European Sky (SES): Council adopts position to improve EU airspace management

The European Commission launched the Single European Sky (SES) initiative in 1999 to improve efficiency in air traffic management and air navigation services through greater integration of European airspace. The last significant legislative initiative under SES, SES 2, was completed in 2009. In 2013, a further update, SES 2+, followed, but this was not implemented.


In September 2020, the Commission presented a revised version of the 2013 proposal, which led to intensive negotiations between the Commission, Council (and the Member States behind it) and European Parliament. These ended on 6 March 2024 with a provisional agreement (trilogue), which now forms the basis for the further legislative process.

EU Commission, Council and EU parliament will agree on new rules for Single European Sky
ses2+ becomes reality

Objectives of the Single European Sky (SES) reform


The aim of the reform is to increase the performance and capacity of the airspace, reduce costs and increase the adaptability of the system, while at the same time reducing the environmental impact of aviation. The central focus is on strengthening safety, meeting capacity requirements and reducing CO₂ emissions while maintaining cost efficiency.


Key points of the Council position


  • Member State sovereignty: The new regulation maintains the Member States' sovereignty over their airspace and excludes military operations.


  • Monitoring of air navigation services: Each Member State appoints a national supervisory authority to monitor service providers' compliance with requirements, e.g. financial sustainability and organizational structures.


  • Air navigation services may be provided within the same organization as the supervisory authority, provided that they are functionally separate.


  • Member States may combine economic and safety monitoring in a single administrative authority in order to reduce bureaucracy.


  • Opening up air navigation services to competition: On a voluntary basis, Member States may open up certain services, such as approach or airport control services, to market conditions.


  • Performance review: The performance review of air navigation services is carried out in cooperation between the national supervisory authorities and the European Commission. The Commission is supported by an independent Performance Review Board (PRB), which acts as a permanent advisory body and is financed from the EU budget.


  • Climate action: Measures have been proposed to improve the carbon footprint of aviation, including a possible mandatory modulation of en route charges to encourage airlines to use more environmentally friendly routes or implement alternative propulsion technologies. A feasibility study will assess the efficiency and impact of this modulation.


  • Network management: the role of the network manager Eurocontrol will be strengthened by giving it additional, clearly defined tasks. The aim is to use airspace more sustainably and efficiently, while involving member states in strategic decisions.


Next steps


The Council's position will now be sent to the European Parliament. As the text fully reflects the compromise reached on 6 March 2024 between the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament, the Parliament is expected to accept the Council position without amendments. The new rules are due to enter into force 20 days after publication in the EU Official Journal.


Lawyer avaition law


Dr. Simon Harald Baier LL.M. advises on matters of Austrian and European aviation law, including the EASA Basic Regulation and SES2+.


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