European Commission and Eurocontrol to strengthen Air Traffic Control and Aviation Safety in South East Europe
The European Commission and Eurocontrol (European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation), in partnership with the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA), have today signed a Grant Agreement for the first phase of a $5 million project to strengthen the aviation sector in South East Europe in terms of air traffic navigation and air safety. The funds will be drawn from the European Commission's Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation (CARDS) Programme in the Balkans. This project will provide support to the Civil Aviation Authorities and Air Traffic Services providers in the five countries - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The first phase will be a $400,000 needs assessment to identify the potential sub-projects and actions required to improve air traffic management and aviation safety in the region.
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Upper Area Control Centre, Maastricht |
The initial needs assessment will cover the full range of activities of the national Civil Aviation Authorities and Air Traffic Services providers. Key areas are legal, regulatory and institutional requirements, management capacities, operational and technical aspects including human resources and training, airspace management, systems requirements, infrastructure and project management, aviation safety/security assessment and training. The initial phase will conclude with a workshop for all interested parties to draw up a list of appropriate projects to be implemented in a second project phase.
Background information
The priorities and actions of the Annual CARDS Programmes are identified in the EC's 2002 - 2006 Strategy Papers for the region and reflect those areas in which the EU has a particular knowledge and comparative advantage as a donor and thus a particular contribution to make.
Eurocontrol has currently 31 members. Its primary objective is the development of a seamless, pan- European traffic management system. For this particular project, Eurocontrol has formed a partnership with the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). JAA is an associated body of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and represents the civil aviation regulatory authorities of a number of European States which have agreed to co-operate in developing and implementing common safety regulatory standards and procedures.
For further information:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/cards/index_en.htm
See also:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/single_sky/index_en.htm