European Parliament on aviation: build a single sky, promote liberalisation - and protectionism

The European Parliament has passed a resolution attempting to set out the assembly's views on how the European Union should develop and integrate its transport policies to form a genuine Single European Transport Area. It does not read easily.

The resolution notes that the transport sector employs around ten million people in the EU and accounts for 5% of GDP and describes it as "a frontrunner in generating further economic growth and job creation, and promoting competitiveness, sustainable development and territorial cohesion". It also trumpets Europe's position as a transport "world leader", in both manufacturing and operations, and stresses the importance of its maintaining its competitive position against "powerful new players and new business models".

Central aims of the resolution are to place people at the heart of transport policy and to honour greenhouse gas commitments across all modes. It supports European connectivity, the Single European Sky and liberalised aviation agreements with the BRICs and ASEAN. However, it may stir controversy with proposed changes to passenger rights regulations and what look like illiberal stances on Gulf/Turkish competition and "flags of convenience".