EC reports on EX-YU air transport progress

NEWS FLASH

The European Commission (EC) has published its annual progress reports for those aspiring to join the European Union, giving an assessment of what each candidate and potential candidate has achieved over the last year, as well as a set of guidelines on reform priorities. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia received largely positive reviews from the commission in the field of air transport, which is contained within the chapter on transport policy. Notably, the EC expressed concern over subsidies provided to airlines by Macedonia. This will be Commission's final November report, with no updates planned for 2017. The next progress report will be made available in the spring of 2018.

The following is the full report on air transport for each:

Bosnia and Herzegovina

In the area of aviation, Bosnia and Herzegovina has achieved a good level of alignment with the acquis. While considerable progress was made on implementing the first transitional phase of the ECAA Agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina still needs to transpose some parts of the acquis. On 'single European sky' (SES) legislation, the country completed the transposition and implementation at local level of the SES I legislation and partially transposed the SES II acquis. Its legislation is partially aligned with EU legislation on aviation safety, whereas a working arrangement with EASA covers all aspects of the acquis in civil aviation safety and environmental protection of products, organisations and personnel.

Kosovo

On aviation, Kosovo has made substantial progress in aligning with the EU acquis and has implemented nearly all the requirements under the first transitional phase of the European Civil Aviation Agreement (ECAA), with the exception of a few provisions in the area of economic regulation. On 'single European sky' (SES) legislation, Kosovo has completed the alignment and implementation of the SES I legislation and made progress on SES II. Working arrangements with the European Aviation Safety Agency are not established yet. There was some progress on implementing the law on the Air Navigation Services Agency. However implementing legislation still needs to be completed including the criteria for management positions. The air navigation service provider has been certified.

Macedonia

On aviation, the country has achieved a relatively good level of alignment with the acquis and has made considerable progress on implementing the first transitional phase of the European Common Aviation Authority Agreement. Concerns about possible state aid in the aviation sector need to be addressed. On the single European sky (SES) legislation, the country has already completed transposition and implementation of the SES I legislation and partially transposed the SES II acquis. Aviation safety legislation is partially aligned with EU legislation whereas the working arrangement with European Aviation Safety Agency covers all aspects of the acquis in civil aviation safety and environmental protection of products, organisations and personnel.

Montenegro

On aviation, Montenegro further advanced with the acquis alignment under the first transitional phase of the European Common Aviation Area Agreement. However, some issues in the field of economic regulation still need to be addressed. To a large extent Montenegro has aligned its legislation with the EU acquis on the Single European Sky. On aviation safety, legislation is aligned with the EU acquis. Following the successful completion of the 'OneStop Security' project in December 2015, Montenegro is now included in the EU list of third countries applying security standards equivalent to the common basic standards on civil aviation security.

Serbia

Serbia has achieved a good level of alignment with the acquis on aviation and has made considerable progress with implementing the first transitional phase of the European Common Aviation Agreement (ECAA). On Single European Sky (SES) legislation for airspace coordination, Serbia has completed transposition and local implementation of SES I and SES II on air traffic. Serbia’s legislation is aligned with EU legislation on aviation safety as listed in Annex 1 of the ECAA. In August 2015, Serbia adopted the law on accident investigation. 46 Working arrangements with the European Aviation Safety Agency cover all aspects of the acquis in civil aviation safety and environmental protection of products, organisations and personnel. The suspension of articles on licensing of air carriers and access to air routes should be lifted before the entry into force of the second transitional period of the ECAA.