Activites

• 2004/04/30 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Regulation 2004/793
  • OJ L 138 30.04.2004, p. 0050-0060
• 2004/04/21 Final act signed
• 2004/04/21 End of procedure in Parliament
• 2004/04/01 Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading
  • T5-0265/2004 summary

    Ulrich STOCKMANN (PES, D) saw his recommendation for second reading on common rules for the allocation of slots on Community airports adopted without amendment. Council had incorporated in its common position Parliament's key amendments from first reading. Plans to relax the application of slot allocation rules following the war in Iraq and the outbreak of SARS were warmly welcomed. The proposals seek to improve the current slot system in terms of its clarity and transparency. Particular attention has been paid to reinforcing the independent status of the slots co-ordinator, and ensuring that the co-ordination committee was also free from undue influence. A possibility of sanctions was provided for and the division of tasks between the co-ordinator, co-ordination committee and Member States was also clarified to ensure the proper handling of complaints. MEPs welcomed the fact that Council has accepted the basic objective to improve the technical functioning of the slot allocation system. A broadening of the definition of "new entrant" was accepted as well as a provision giving a greater priority to new entrants in the allocation of slots from the "slot pool". Finally, the "use-it-or-lose-it" rule, which requires air carriers to use 80% of their slots in one scheduling season in order to receive them again for the next season, was adapted in the sense that unforeseeable circumstances, on which an air carrier has no influence, were also incorporated.�

• 2004/03/31 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 2004/03/17 Vote in committee, 2nd reading
  • A5-0217/2004
• 2004/02/26 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 2nd reading
• #2561
• 2004/02/19 Council Meeting
  • 16305/1/2003 summary

    The Council accepted the Commission's basic objective which is to improve the technical functioning of the slot allocation system. In this regard the common position inter alia : - includes important amendments and additions to the definitions to clarify the terms used in the Regulation; - provides for a reinforcement of the independent status of the slot coordinator and the coordination committee; - provides for sanctions when slots are used in an abusive manner. Regarding aspects of the Commission proposal that could affect market access arrangements, the Council accepted some, but not all, of the changes proposed by the Commission. A broadening of the definition of "new entrant" was accepted, as well as a provision giving greater priority to new entrants in the allocation of slots from the "slot pool". However, other provisions proposed by the Commission, notably on slot exchanges and the prohibition of trading, were not taken on board by the Council. In not incorporating these provisions, the Council was primarily concerned that the whole issue of market access should be considered in the wider context of a more thorough revision of the slot allocation rules, which could be the subject of a separate Commission proposal in the future. The Council followed to a large degree the concerns underlying the Parliament's first reading opinion. In total 32 of the 52 amendments proposed by the Parliament were accepted in full, in part or in principle.�

• #2551
• 2003/12/05 Council Meeting
• #2515
• 2003/06/05 Council Meeting
  • 2515
• 2002/11/07 Modified legislative proposal published
  • COM(2002)0623 summary

    The Commission accepted 19 amendments in full, and 15 in part or principle. The amendments accepted include the following elements of the proposal: the definition of new entrant, air carrier, the functions of the coordinator, the functions of the coordination committee and the designation of coordination parameters. The commission also accepts the amendment concerning its powers when examining cases of exceptional circumstances. Periods for dealing with complaints have been shortened to ensure quick solutions within reasonable time. Other accepted amendments include: -clarification that the analysis of the airport capacity is also made at the request of the coordination capacity, or the air carriers representing more than half of the operators at an airport, or the managing body of the airport, or the Member states or Commission. The Commission rejected 18 amendments. These include: -the deletion of any reference to local passenger organisations from the consultation process regarding the airport capacity analysis and the determination of the coordination parameters. Accepting these amendments would completely deprive consumer interests from playing any role in the slot allocation process; -the status of the coordinator: Parliament has proposed that the exemption of the coordinator from liability despite his increased obligations. The Commission will not accept a general exemption and is of the opinion that the liability of the coordinator should be limited to cases of gross negligence and wilful misconduct; -the functioning of the coordination of the committee; -amendments which would affect intermodality and public service obligations.�

  • DG ['Energy and Transport'],
• #X017
• 2002/10/03 Council Meeting
• 2002/06/11 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T5-0293/2002 summary

    The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the report by Ulrich STOCKMANN (PES, Germany) on slot allocation. (Please refer to the document dated 22/05/02.) With regard to the role of the coordinator, Parliament inserted an amendment stating that the coordinator should at all events be exempt from any claim for damages. The coordination committee will not be empowered to take decisions that are the sole responsibility of the coordinator. Member States' discretionary powers include the ability to restrict an entitlement to a series of slots in response to changed environmental protection conditions at the airport concerned. Member States may also penalise air carriers who use aircraft other than those most recently agreed on with the coordinator where this has a detrimental effect on capacity.�

• 2002/06/10 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 2002/05/22 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A5-0186/2002
• #X016
• 2002/03/25 Council Meeting
• 2001/09/03 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• #2364
• 2001/06/27 Council Meeting
  • 2364
• 2001/06/20 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(2001)0335 summary

    PURPOSE: To update and clarify aspects of Regulation 95/93 on common rules for the allocation of slots at Community airports. CONTENT: Since the implementation of Regulation 95/93 in 1993 the Commission has continued to monitor and supervise the application for the allocation of slots at Community airports. Frequent discussions with Member States and interested parties, combined with extensive independent research, indicates that aspects of the existing Regulation are in need of revision. In particular, a clarification of legal definitions is required in order to maximise the effectiveness of the Regulation. The proposed amendments therefore seek: - to clarify the legal nature of slots; - to ensure the transparent, neutral and non-discriminatory airport capacity determination; and - to set up slot allocation procedures by legally and factually independent coordinators. Given the sensitive nature of the allocation of airport slots, the Commission does not seek to address market share access in this instance - a report on this challenge will be published in the later half of 2001. Specifically, the Commission recommends the following changes to the current Regulation: - that the role of the coordinator be changed in such a way as to make him/her independent of any stakeholder in the allocation of airport slots; - to clarify the legal nature of slots, whereby slots are allocated as public goods, based on certain rules to the most deserving carrier; - to take environmental factors into account when allocating airport slots. The proposed amendments will permit the introduction of local environmental priority rules provided that they are in conformity with Community law: - to include additional criterion for slot allocation by taking into account the existence of satisfactory service by other modes of transport. - a clarification of transfers and exchanges. In order to allow for transactions to be taken in an efficient way it is proposed that direct transfer of slots between carriers be compatible with competition policy decisions; - to reinforce the definition of "new entrant". - to step up the enforcement of sanctions by awarding coordinators the right to withdraw, for the remainder of the scheduling season, the series of slots affected by incorrect behaviour; - to reject flight plans of airlines when they intend to land and/or take off without having first secured the necessary slots.�

  • DG ['Energy and Transport'],

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(2001)0335
• Debate in Council: 2364
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A5-0186/2002
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T5-0293/2002
• Modified legislative proposal published: COM(2002)0623
• Debate in Council: 2515
• Council position published: 16305/1/2003
• Committee recommendation tabled for plenary, 2nd reading: A5-0217/2004
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading: T5-0265/2004
• : Regulation 2004/793
• : OJ L 138 30.04.2004, p. 0050-0060

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)