The high-level conference organised on the implementation of the Single European Sky programme package was closed by approval of the Budapest Charter on 4 March, 2011. The document sets out the concrete and effective measures that can be taken by the stakeholders in support of the implementation of the joint efforts.

At the high-level conference the representatives of the EU institutions, Member States, air transport authorities and services discussed the proposals drafted to promote successful completion of the plans in four panels. The document entitled “Budapest Charter on the Implementation of the Single European Sky” approved with the consent of the participants specifies and summarises the tasks to be performed.

Points of intervention are set in the document for the Member States, the European Commission, the functional airspace blocks, national supervisory authorities, air navigation services, airports, social partners, airspace users and the European institutions. They also include short-term operative measures meant to prevent and mitigate the air navigation capacity problems expected in the summer.

The Budapest Charter requires the Member States to do their best efforts to have the functional airspace blocks completed by 4 December 2012. The organisation of the European airspace into major regional units beyond the current system adjusted to state-borders is a key element in the creation of the Single European Sky.

The functional airspace blocks will bring us closer to the solution of capacity problems. They allow a more economical and environment-friendly operation, along with maintaining and even improving the high level of aviation safety. Hungary is expected to sign the agreement creating the Functional Airspace Block of Central Europe (FAB CE) simultaneously with six other partner states (Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia and Slovenia).

In his closing address, acting chairman of the transport formation in the Transport, Telecommunications, and Energy Council, Pál Völner indicated that he would give account of the conference achievements at the 31 March 2011 Council meeting. He requested the Polish Presidency, next in turn, to support, relying on the achievements of the Budapest Conference, the implementation of the Single European Sky programme.

(Ministry of National Development , Department of Communication)