Editing Single European Sky (section)

== History ==
=== Origins (1999–2004) ===
After the [[Prodi Commission]] took office in September 1999, Transport Commissioner [[Loyola de Palacio]] launched efforts to structurally reform air traffic management across Europe, as she and many others had concluded that Eurocontrol was incapable of effectively carrying out its duties, particularly its decision-making and its failure to implement agreements. By the end of 1999, the European Commission had obtained the consent of all EU Transport Ministers for the 'creation of a single European sky', encompassing structural ATM integration and reform, and established a high level group of senior civil and military air traffic authorities representing the member states to prepare concrete policy proposals.<ref name="Crespo">{{Cite book |last1=Crespo |first1=Daniel Calleja |last2=de Leon |first2=Pablo Mendes |date=2011 |title=Achieving the Single European Sky: Goals and Challenges |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ktGflCyLQh0C |location=Alphen aan de Rijn |publisher=Kluwer Law International |pages=4–5 |isbn=9789041137302 |access-date=18 October 2020}}</ref>

After the high level group had completed its report in late 2000, the Commission used its recommendations to develop legislative proposals for regulating the SES.<ref name="Crespo"/> In October 2001, the European Commission adopted proposals for a Single European Sky, to create a Union regulator for air traffic management within the countries forming the European Union, [[Norway]] and [[Switzerland]]. The European Union regulator was supposed to merge upper European airspaces, currently divided into national zones. It was proposed to organise this airspace uniformly, with [[air traffic control]] areas based on operational efficiency, instead of national borders. Also, there were plans to integrate civil and military air traffic management.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020|reason=What exactly happened in October 2001?}} The framework regulation that sketched the working methods of the SES, and specific regulations on air navigation, airspace and equipment, were adopted on 11 December 2003, and entered into force as Regulation (EC) No 550/2004 (Service Provision Regulation) on 20 April 2004.<ref name="Crespo"/><ref name="Service Provision Regulation">{{Cite web |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32004R0550 |title=Regulation (EC) No 550/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the provision of air navigation services in the single European sky (the service provision Regulation) |work=Official Journal of the European Union |publisher=Eur-Lex |date=10 March 2004 |access-date=19 October 2020}}</ref>

There are discussions about enlarging the initiative to cover the [[Balkan]] and [[Mediterranean]] countries.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

=== Gibraltar issue (2000–2020) ===
One report from the British Parliament, dated 2000, reported that Spain blocked the inclusion of [[Gibraltar Airport]] in the Single European Sky, meaning the whole package was suspended.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200001/cmselect/cmfaff/319/31903.htm|title=Foreign Affairs Committee Report|publisher=www.parliament.co.uk}}</ref> Due to [[Brexit]], formally completed on 31 January 2020, this stumbling block was removed.<ref name="Morgan"/>

=== SES-I (2004–2009) ===
The first SES legislation (SES-I) has been viewed as 'a real breakthrough', as is stimulated progress in harmonisation in [[air navigation service provider]]s (ANSPs), the establishment of national supervisory authorities and EU competences over certification of these services.<ref name="Crespo"/> However, progress was slow in the next two years; the establishment of [[functional airspace block]]s (FABs) was disorganised, little progress was made in improving cost efficiency, growing air traffic threatened capacity, and with tackling climate change emerging as a political priority, European aviation's emissions had to be mitigated.<ref name="Crespo"/> In response to strong demands from the industry, EU member states and other stakeholders, the [[Barroso Commission]] appointed a new high level group to develop a more detailed regulatory framework in November 2006.<ref name="Crespo"/> The group published its report in July 2007; it contained 10 recommendations, including making the EU the primary regulator of European aviation in order to set performance targets, safety requirements, introduce economic regulation of ATM services, incentives for ANSPs to achieve their objectives, and streamlining the implementation of FABs. Eurocontrol would provide the EU with technical support for regulations, safety regulation would be delegated to the [[European Aviation Safety Agency]] (EASA), and member states would be urged to hurry up with their commitments to implement the defragmentation of airspaces.<ref name="Crespo"/>

=== SES-II (2009–2012) ===
[[File:Functional airspace block.svg|thumb|Map of [[functional airspace block]]s in the Single European Sky
{{legend|#ffff00ff|NEFAB}}
{{legend|#00ff00ff|FAB DK-SE}}
{{legend|#ff1b17ff|FAB UK-IRL}}
{{legend|#8800aaff|Baltic FAB}}
{{legend|#173fffff|FABEC}}
{{legend|#ff17ceff|FAB CE}}
{{legend|#ff6600ff|SW FAB}}
{{legend|#00d44bff|Danube FAB}}
{{legend|#43f3ffff|Blue Med}}]]
On 21 October 2009, a revision of the SES regulations called SES-II was adopted, which entered into force on 4 December 2009.<ref name="SES-II">{{Cite web |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2004/550/2009-12-04 |title=(Revised) Regulation (EC) No 550/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the provision of air navigation services in the single European sky (the service provision Regulation) |work=Official Journal of the European Union |publisher=Eur-Lex |date=21 October 2009 |access-date=19 October 2020}}</ref>
Focus is here on four areas:{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
#The existing Single Sky legislation is sharpened to deal with performance and environmental challenges.
#The [[Single European Sky ATM Research]] (SESAR) programme is to provide the future technology.
#The competence of the [[European Aviation Safety Agency]] (EASA) is to be extended to [[aerodrome]]s, air traffic management and air navigation services.
#The 'action plan for airport capacity, efficiency and safety' is to be implemented thus providing ground capacity.

The SES-II aimed to merge 36 national airspaces into 9 [[Functional Airspace Block]] (FABs) in order to provide better performance,<ref name="KanterClark"/> ultimately 3 years later on 4 December 2012.<ref name="CAPA 2012"/>

The [[air travel disruption after the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption]] caused an acceleration to merge member states' air traffic control systems into the Single European Sky, and the immediate creation of a crisis co-ordination group to handle future transport disruptions.<ref name="KanterClark">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/05/world/europe/05ash.html |title=European Union Agrees to Accelerate Joint Control of Skies |author=James Kanter & Nicola Clark |work=The New York Times |date=4 May 2010 |access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref> On 2 December 2010, France, Germany, Switzerland and the Benelux countries agreed to form the FABEC (Functional Airspace Block Europe Central), the third FAB to be created after the Dano-Swedish and Anglo-Irish block. The FABs were supposed to enter into effect by 2012, but delays were expected due to protests from ATC labour unions.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://flightlevel.be/4353/zes-landen-tekenen-verdrag-ter-oprichting-fabec/ |title=Zes landen tekenen verdrag ter oprichting FABEC |author=Yannick De Bel |work=Flightlevel.be |date=2 December 2010 |access-date=17 October 2020 |language=nl}}</ref> The FAB CE, consisting of Austria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, was formed in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20101119_OTS0262/bures-trifft-slowenischen-verkehrsminister-patrick-vlacic-enge-zusammenarbeit-bei-umweltfreundlichen-verkehr-und-single-european-sky |title=Bures trifft slowenischen Verkehrsminister Patrick Vlacic - Enge Zusammenarbeit bei umweltfreundlichen Verkehr und Single European Sky |work=Originaltext-Service |publisher=Austrian government |date=19 November 2010 |access-date=17 October 2020 |language=de}}</ref> By 26 October 2012, only the Anglo-Irish and Dano-Swedish FABs had been fully implemented, while the other 7 FABs were still in various stages of development; the deadline for the full realisation of the Single European Sky on 4 December 2012 was missed.<ref name="CAPA 2012">{{Cite news |url=https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/reports/europe-to-take-a-third-attempt-at-sorting-out-the-single-european-sky-86383 |title=Europe to take a third attempt at sorting out the Single European Sky |work=Centre for Aviation |publisher=CAPA |date=26 October 2012 |access-date=18 October 2020}}</ref>

=== SES 2+ (2013–2018) ===
On 10 June 2013, the [[European Commission]] presented its plan "B" to speed up the implementation process of SES. The so-called SES 2+ is a package of measure which aim at challenging the current situation with state owned monopolies responsible for providing air navigation services. At the same time, transport workers' union ETF announced mobilising its members to protest against the suggested package.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurocockpit.be/stories/20121105/the-sky-has-a-limit|title=The sky has a limit|date=5 November 2012|publisher=www.eurocockpit.be}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airtrafficmanagement.net/2013/06/unions-mobilise-to-halt-further-european-reform/|title=Unions mobilise to further halt European reform|date=9 June 2013|publisher=Air Traffic Management}}</ref> Negotiations on SES 2+ stalled in the Council in 2015.<ref name=":0">Single European Sky 2+ package, Amended Commission proposal: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2020/659421/EPRS_BRI(2020)659421_EN.pdf</ref>

In 2017, the [[European Court of Auditors]] determined that the functional airspace blocks have failed to defragment European airspace as they have not been fully implemented, with aircraft still being serviced by a different air navigation provider in each member state with different rules and requirements. This was due to a "lack of commitment on the part of the member states".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://euobserver.com/science/140111 |title=Auditors: 'Single European Sky' failed to meet main objectives |author=Caterina Tani |work=EUObserver |date=1 December 2017 |access-date=19 October 2020}}</ref>

=== Amended SES 2+ (2019–present) ===
By 2019, nothing of the plan had yet been officially realised, adding an extra 6 billion euros in costs, and 11.6 million megatonnes of excess {{CO2}} emissions for that year alone.<ref name="Morgan">{{Cite news |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/aviation/news/corona-crisis-and-brexit-boost-eu-air-traffic-reform-hopes/ |title=Corona-crisis and Brexit boost EU air traffic reform hopes |author=Sam Morgan |work=Euractiv |date=22 September 2020 |access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref> In September 2019, 21 aviation organisations including Airlines for Europe (A4E), AIRE, ACI Europe, CANSO, ERA and IATA, signed an agreement in Brussels to urge the creation of an SES, and to work together with EU institutions and member states to achieve it.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.luchtvaartnieuws.nl/nieuws/categorie/72/algemeen/luchtvaartorganisaties-dringen-aan-op-single-european-sky |title=Luchtvaartorganisaties dringen aan op Single European Sky |author=Niek Vernooij |work=Luchtvaartnieuws.nl |date=11 September 2019 |access-date=17 October 2020 |language=nl}}</ref> The Commission appointed 15 experts in the field to form a Wise Person's Group to assess the current situation and future needs.<ref name=":0" />

After Brexit was formally completed on 31 January 2020 (eliminating UK objections and the Gibraltar issue), and the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] put the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation|aviation sector into an existential crisis]], the European Commission made a new proposal for a Single European Sky on 22 September 2020.<ref name="Morgan"/> It used the expert group's recommendations to amend the 2013 proposal's text, and introduced new measures; separately, it also drafted a proposal to amend the [[European Aviation Safety Agency|EASA]] Basic Regulation.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} Instead of relying on top-down regulation, which appeared not to have worked previously, the Commission stimulated voluntary alliances between so-called air traffic service providers.<ref name="Morgan"/> [[Airlines for Europe]] supported the proposal, but stressed the importance of 'enhanced governance structure' to ensure its success.<ref name="Morgan"/> Meanwhile, the FABEC and FAB CE zones, jointly accounting for 8.6 million flights (over 75% of all European air traffic) in 2019, agreed to formalise and intensify their cooperation in June 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.airportzentrale.de/engere-zusammenarbeit-der-luftraumbloecke-fabec-und-fab-ce/66085/ |title=Engere Zusammenarbeit der Luftraumblöcke FABEC und FAB CE |work=Airportzentrale.de |date=20 June 2020 |access-date=18 October 2020 |language=de}}</ref>