Framework for the creation of the single European sky

The Conciliation Committee reached agreement on the framework regulation. The main elements of the compromise may be summarised as follows: - the balance of civil and military interests and civil-military cooperation: it was decided to make an explicit reference to the Member States' general statement on military issues related to the Single European Sky, which was made at the time of the adoption of the Common Position, and to publish this statement alongside the legislation. In this statement, the Member States recognise that the safe and efficient use of airspace can only be achieved through close cooperation between civil and military users, mainly based on the concept of flexible use of airspace and effective civil-military coordination. With a view to the establishment and implementation of the Single Sky regulatory framework, they undertake in particular to "facilitate cooperation between their armed forces in all matters of air traffic management" and "to create the arrangements necessary to support such cooperation in order to guarantee a balanced consideration of economic as well as security and defence requirements". They also declare that they will "cooperate with each other, taking into account national military requirements, in order to ensure that the concept of flexible use of airspace is fully and uniformly applied in all Member States by all users of airspace". It was also agreed to underline in the text of the Regulation itself that the optimum and efficient use of airspace will only be possible if the requirements of all users are taken into account and where relevant represented in the whole development, decision-making process and implementation of the Single European Sky, including the Single Sky Committee; - the creation of an industry consultation body: in response to concerns expressed by various sectors of industry, Parliament fought successfully for the inclusion in the legislative text of a provision for the establishment of an Industry Consultation Body to enable stakeholders to advise the Commission on the technical aspects of the implementation of the Single European Sky; - the role of Eurocontrol: it was agreed that Eurocontrol should be able to take part in meetings of the Single Sky Committee as an observer and that the activity of the Industry Consultation Body would be without prejudice to Eurocontrol's own role. For the development of implementing rules falling under Eurocontrol's remit, Council agreed that the Commission should be required to make best use of the arrangements within Eurocontrol for the involvement and consultation of all interested parties; - sanctions: at Parliament's insistence a new article has been introduced concerning sanctions. In particular, the sanctions laid down by the Member States for infringements by airspace users and service providers of any of the Single Sky regulations must be effective, proportional and dissuasive.�