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The EU & Regional Aviation

Changes in the European Commission & Parliament

Tuesday, 3 February 2015

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Introduction

James Sibley, EU Policy

Analyst

The specialist provider of EU political

intelligence, EU monitoring, bespoke research

and consulting services for public affairs

professionals

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The Juncker Commission

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New Structure

Departmental reshuffling:

• All consumer policy brought under DG JUST

• Energy and climate fused in DG CLIMA

More powerful Vice-President roles leading “project teams”

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Project Team: A Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy

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New Structure

First meeting of the Energy Union Project Team

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New Structure

• Project teams build new horizontal structures into Commission

• More focussed approach

• New initiatives need backing of at least one VP to be adopted by Commission

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New Faces

• Replaced Alenka Bratuşek as

Slovenian nominee following

Bratuşek resignation

• Little experience of transport policy

or of high political office

• Background as telecoms

entrepreneur

• Dedicated first official speech to the

Single European Sky

Violeta Bulc, Commissioner for Transport

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New Faces

• Controversial nominee due to oil

shares and sexist comments

• Former Minister of Agriculture in

government of Mariano Rajoy

• Questions over combination of

climate change and energy

Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action & Energy

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New Faces

• First experience in Brussels chairing

meetings of finance ministers during

Danish Presidency in 2012

• Has put consumers at heart of EU

competition policy since taking office

• “It is not sound industrial policy to

protect companies from competition

at the cost of consumers.”

Margrethe Vestager, Commissioner for Competition

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New Faces

• Qualified lawyer, with past

experience working with European

funds and in tourism policy

• Tasked with a focus on consumers,

Mr Jourová will oversee attempts to

finalise the reform of the Air

Passenger Rights Regulation

• Broad portfolio may lead to

overstretch

Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers & Gender Equality

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New Style

• Sleek and focussed Commission Work Programme for 2015

• 80 proposals withdrawn and only 23 new initiatives proposed

• Most important developments:

• Investment Plan for Europe

• Aviation Package

• Groundhandling Regulation withdrawn

• Security Charges Directive withdrawn

• Proposed withdrawal – subsequently rescinded – of National

Emissions Ceiling Directive

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The European Parliament

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New Parliament

• Populist parties gain 18.6% seats in the European Parliament

• Disruption minimised by main party groups collaborating

• Green MEP Michael Cramer elected Chair of TRAN Committee

• Sky and Space Intergroup re-established

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New Appointments

• German Green MEP

• Initiated “Iron Curtain Trail” – a 160km

cycle path – in previous legislature

• “Change transport, not the climate”

• Heavily against weakening of Air

Passenger Rights Regulation

Michael Cramer, Chair of the Transport & Tourism Committee

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Ongoing Legislation

• MEPs remain divided over EU PNR

• Trilogues on Air Passenger Rights and SESII+

• Work continues on National Emissions Ceiling Directive

• Gibraltar issue delaying many proposals, including Slots

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ConclusionsCommission

• Political focus on “better regulation” and deregulation• More horizontal organisation• Split priorities for some DGs• Lack of detail and vision for aviation

Parliament• Work continues relatively unhindered by populist parties• Green Chair of TRAN• Many old faces return to TRAN Committee• Political positions on many legislative files remain similar

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Questions