Air transport: slots at Community airports and competition (amend. Regulation (EEC) No 95/93)

The Commission considers that the common position adopted by qualified majority is acceptable and thus can be supported. These changes concern mainly the technical aspects of slot allocation. The Common Position confirms the aim of the Commission proposal to modernise the slot allocation procedures by clarifying the terms used in the Regulation, setting high standards of independence and accountability of the slot coordinator, ensuring that the coordination committee remains independent from any party that may be concerned in cases of mediation and, finally, by providing for sanctions against the abusive use of slots. Nevertheless, because the Council did not go as far as proposed by the Commission, particularly on the core question of false slot exchanges and the commercialisation of slots, the Commission made the following declaration to the common position: "The Commission deplores that the Council was not able to reach an agreement on the issue of strengthening its disciplines for the allocation of slots. It is for this reason, that it announced in its proposal, that it intends, in 2004, to draft a second proposal on this matter, in order to facilitate the access to airports in particular the most saturated ones and to encourage competition. This second proposal shall be supported by a study in the course of being carried out and a broad consultation of the players concerned. The Commission is waiting a rapid examination of this proposal by the 2 institutions".�