Assembly debate on 30 September 1980 (16th Sitting) (see Doc. 4610, report of the Committee on Science and Technology). Text adopted by the Assembly on 30 September 1980 (16th Sitting).
a increasingly frequent congestion, during peak periods in particular, on account of the way air space is divided up into national, civil and military zones, the resulting detours which prolong journeys unnecessarily, and the lack of commonality in the equipment used by different countries ;
b that this state of affairs is a source of inconvenience for users, and causes substantial energy wastage and an increase in costs whose long-term effect is liable to jeopardise the profitability of air transport and create further social and economic problems ;
3. Convinced that it is necessary, in order to remedy this situation :
a to establish an integrated system for air trafficcontrol and air traffic flow management on a European scale under one agency,agreed methods for training air traffic controllers, standards for compatible equipment and a research programme directed to these ends ;
b to promote effective co-operation between civil and military authorities, so as to rationalise civil aviation routes ;
c to gradually extend this system to as large an area of Europe as possible, covering the twenty-one Council of Europe countries ;
4. Regretting that, despite the imperative need for a more broadly based management of air traffic in Europe, Eurocontrol, in twenty years of existence, has not been given the means needed for the fulfilment of this task ;
5. Deeply concerned that certain member states of Eurocontrol wish to revise the convention on this organisation that is in force until 1983, so as to reinstate with national authorities the prerogatives which should effectively have been transferred to Eurocontrol ;
6. Emphasising that Eurocontrol :
a should be developed as an instrument for improving the efficiency and safety of air transport, which is an important means of exchange and communication between the peoples of Europe ;
b has fulfilled an important role in the training of air traffic controllers, not only for member countries but also for non-member countries- the Luxembourg centre is already open to non-member states ;
c has acquired a recognised lead in the development and construction of advanced air traffic control systems in the centres of Maastricht, Karlsruhe and Shannon :
7. Considering that :
a Eurocontrol, for the foregoing reasons and onaccount of operational requirements, should encompass as many Council of Europemember states as possible ;
b since the current tasks and future development of Eurocontrol require major decisions of national and international policy, the activities of the organisation should be regularly reported to the European parliamentary assemblies ;
c the important specific staff problems of Eurocontrol should be solved through institutionalised regular consultation between Eurocontrol's Permanent Commission and the trade unions concerned,
8. Invites the governments of member states :
a to take joint action to make it easier for new members to join Eurocontrol ;
b to request the Eurocontrol Permanent Commission to maintain the tasks of the organisation as stated in the convention, including those set out in paragraph 3.a ;
9. Expresses the wish that Eurocontrol should report regularly on its activities to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
