In its Position Paper on
Transport – Mobility
and Transport until
2030 – published on 22
October this year, the EPP Group in
the European Parliament underlined
that freedom of movement and a
well-functioning European transport
sector is the cornerstone of growth
and employment in the EU, especially
during the current COVID-19
pandemic and the future European
recovery.
This is why, as the EPP speaker in
TRAN Committee, I called for the
application of one simple rule during
similar crises: open borders for the
transport of goods. All EU citizens
have to enjoy mobility, as is one
of their rights provided by the EU
Treaty. By setting up a stronger, more
resilient and sustainable transport
network, Europe will be able to
overcome future crises and master
challenges.
The COVID-19 outbreak has caused
an unprecedented crisis, resulting
in the collapse of air connectivity
and putting at risk the future of
the entire aviation chain– with
far-reaching consequences for the
civil aeronautical industry and their
supply chain, as well as for the
competitiveness of the aeronautics
industry. Due to collapsing demand,
Original Equipment Manufacturers
(OEMs) had to reduce their
production levels.
This has major impact not only on the
OEMs and their workforce but also
on the many supply chain companies
including mid cap suppliers and
SMEs that often have no big financial
buffer to weather this perfect storm.
Without public support millions of
jobs are at risk. But even with public
support, the path to recovery will be
long and might take between 3-5
years to get back to pre-COVID levels.
In addition to this challenging
economic situation in the short
and medium term, civil aviation is
facing the longer-term challenge
of decarbonizing and advancing
in the greening of the sector. It is
therefore essential to link COVID
recovery with the need for continued
investment into actions that help the
decarburization of civil aviation in the
medium and long term. Moreover,
the current low demand levels are
also an opportunity to accelerate the
digital transformation of the industry
and civil aviation. Due to the current
economic crisis, public support will
be essential since many companies
face cash flow problems and are
therefore only able to sustain longer
term investments if they get public
support.
LESSONS OF THE PANDEMIC: EU-LEVEL COORDINATION OF HYGIENE AND HEALTH PROTOCOL
The pandemic has created a real
crisis for both airlines and plane
manufacturers. What have we learned
from it? That we need an EU-level
coordination of travel restrictions,
hygiene and health protocols. The
Recovery and Resilience Facility
should include a Project of European
Added Value for the aeronautics
industry’s recovery to facilitate the
replacement of fleets with new and
more sustainable products.
On the other hand, the aviation needs
to adapt to the climate change. The
same as the pandemic, climate
change is global. A global challenge
that needs a global solution.
Therefore, the EU needs to support
efficient and viable international
initiatives in all areas including
transport, especially in the aviation
and maritime sectors.
STRATEGICALLY THINKING OF AVIATION'S DECARBONISATION
Aviation needs to advance the
deployment and ensure ambition in
the international carbon offsetting
scheme, known as CORSIA. To
achieve this, the Union must speak with one voice in the International
Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Alternative aviation fuels need to
increase market share in order to
contribute to emissions reduction.
Therefore, we underline in EPP
Transport Position paper that a
thorough assessment of the life-cycle
emission of these fuels is needed.
Further emissions reduction may
be achieved with the adoption and
implementation of the legislation on
the Single European Sky 2+.
The EU already supports research in
aviation (Clean Sky Joint Undertaking)
and this should continue and
intensify to provide technological
solutions including for alternative
fuels. Solutions stemming from such
research, like the use of satellites
and the complete deployment of
the Single European Sky Air Traffic
Management Research (SESAR)
should be completed as soon as
possible throughout the EU.
A revision of state aid rules for
airports is also necessary in order
to significantly decrease emissions
and travel time, while increasing
efficiency. Therefore, we called
on the Commission to incentivize
aircraft manufacturers to adapt
future production to European short
distance, single-leg flights suitable
for electric solutions. Airports should
be systematically connected to
cities through (high-speed) train
lines. Airports must use only zeroemissions
vehicles.
As we have stated in the conclusions
of the 5th Aeronautics conference
organized under the umbrella of "Sky
and Space Intergroup", Member
States should include in their
national recovery and resilience plans
investments in cross- border and
multi-country projects, which can
contribute to the economic recovery
and generate European Added
Value, while supporting the Union’s
2050 climate neutrality objective
with respect to aviation. In addition
to this, a European Aviation and
Aeronautics Recovery Plan should
be set-up to support a sustainable
aviation roadmap and a future
competitiveness in order to ensure
that Europe remains a leader in terms
of sustainable and green recovery of
the aviation sector.
The EU should implement a green
incentive scheme for aircraft
operators to replace older aircraft
(fixed wing and helicopters) with
more modern and environmentally
friendly aircraft; use public funds
dedicated to the recovery to provide
such incentives to aircraft operators.
On average, new aircraft models are
20%-25% more fuel-efficient.
Moreover, we should set up a
European public investment plan
for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)
in order to increase their market
share and contribute to emissions
reduction. Last but not least, there
is a need to investment in green
airport and heliport infrastructure.
We also need to invest in research
and deployment of sustainable fuels
for the aviation sector as well as
the corresponding charging points
in airports or logistics platforms.
The new fifth window for strategic
European investment within the
financing programme of InvestEU
and next Connecting Europe
Facility should contribute to this
objective. Digital transformation
of the industry must remain a top
priority for the EU, and the fast and
ambitious implementation of the EU
Digital- and Data Strategy is more
important than ever.
DON'T FORGET THE PASSENGERS
Transport must provide the best
conditions for passengers. The
EPP Group is calling for a fair
system of passenger rights in all
modes of transport. The European
Commission should provide a
legislative framework for multimodal, "door to door" ticketing, booking
and payment services. Effective
solutions are needed to manage
the pressure put on the transport
network and the environment
without generating heavy costs and
administrative burden for users.
Transport must be fit to cope with
new environmental, socio-economic,
technological developments as well
as public health, requiring significant
investments in new mobility models,
digitalization, research and innovation,
alternative energy sources and energy
efficiency.
Transport must contribute to
reaching the EU emissions reduction
targets in a technologically neutral
way, while making sure that transport
remains affordable. It can hugely
benefit from research and the Union's
research policy has to be geared
towards strengthening the sector's
competitiveness, environmental
performance and maximizing its
benefits.
CONCLUSION
Mobility and transport are a
precondition for prosperity, wealth
and opportunities. Mobility brings
individuals and consequently all of
Europe closer together. Therefore,
the EPP Group is committed to
making our European transport
system affordable, reliable, digital
and sustainable. We want to keep
the transport costs per household at
the current levels, forge a borderless
Single European Transport Area and
reduce pollution and emissions
through technological progress,
efficiency and investment. Low levels
of aviation funding in the EU's next
multi-annual financial framework
(MFF) are not sufficient to advance
firmly and in due time towards
the EU's increasing climate goal
ambitions set in the European Green
Deal (55% CO2 reductions by 2030,
climate neutrality by 2050).