Air transport: impact of the third package of liberalization measures

In adopting the report by Mr Barry SEAL (PSE, RU) the European Parliament takes the view that liberalization of the transport sector should take place prudently and progressively in the interests of both the consumers and the industry. It regrets that the Commission failed to mention the social impact of liberalization and calls on it to carry out a detailed survey of the social and employment- related implications of air transport liberalization and submit to Parliament a report containing legislative proposals relating to flight times, working conditions and training. Parliament stresses that measures to intensify the competitiveness of the air transport industry in the European Union should not take place at the expense of safety and jobs and of the quality of the services provided to the travellers. It is concerned about the implications of the transfer of services to low-wage countries which leads to social dumping to the detriment of employees. Parliament considers that one of the main requirements for successful liberalization is that competition between air carriers should be governed by uniform and transparent conditions and it calls on the Commission to apply the rules governing the granting of state aid in a strict and consistent fashion so as to eliminate any distortion associated with such aid. It calls for a transparent and more cost-related airfares and asks the Commission to submit a proposal on the revision of the regulation on common rules for the allocation of slots at Community airports. �