A special committee of European member states and the European Commission (EC) has finished preparing a draft convention for the planned European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The document is due to be sent to relevant European aviation bodies for comment this month.
A battle is expected between aviation organisations and European Union member states over whether the agency should be given sufficient authority to take over the decision-making power of national civil aviation authorities.
The agency is being set up to replace the European Joint Aviation Authorities and it will be backed by a legal framework. Membership is expected to be open to the 27 members of the JAA.
"It is fair to say we're expecting to have to keep the pressure up," says AECMA, the European aviation industry body. "There is a concern that important elements of the draft convention will have been watered down. We are calling for a strong EASA which has the authority to take executive decisions."
A senior EC transport directorate source says all the technical elements of EASA have been prepared, including its functions, structure and method of operation. "There is a common will to get this authority off the ground and to make it as efficient as possible," says the source, "although we are still confronted by questions of political accountability and legal status."
The aim is to win the political blessing of EC member states by year end. "We want to be able to report to the European Council and European Parliament early next year," says the EC source. This will lead to a diplomatic conference in the first half of 2000 to which non-EC members will be invited, when it is hoped the remaining political issues will be settled and an international treaty signed.
Source: Flight International
