Esteemed Directors General,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very grateful for the opportunity to welcome you today in Stockholm for this third Governing Body of the South East European Functional Airspace Block Approach. Firstly, I would like to thank the Directors General and the organizer to made the impossible possible in transferring this meeting to Stockholm.

This meeting has the aim to have “your approval on extending the South East Europe Functional Airspace Blocks Approach towards a Support Program for implementing Single European Sky into South East Europe” and represents a re-orientation of SEE FABA.

First question coming to my mind is WHY …

The answer is quite simple. The creation of Functional Airspace Blocks is only one of several aspects of Single European Sky and concentrating on a single project without having in place the institutional and regulatory framework including the necessary transposition in national law will deviate from the initial goal to implement to extend all regulations of Single European Sky towards SEE.

Second question which is coming to my mind is FOR WHAT  REASON

I believe that there are several reasons which are underlining the importance of the re-orientation of SEE FABA.

1.)     First reason:the political importance

With the extension of Single European Sky in Europe in general, it is of utmost importance that SEE is linked in this specific area to the European Union and do not remain a white spot.

The belligerent hostilities in South East Europe have shown in the past not only the vulnerability of the air traffic in the region, but also the negative economic impact on all surrounding countries and in the whole south eastern part of Europe. Effects like the closure of the Kosovo airspace have long lasting consequences on the air traffic management not only in the region but in general in Europe by de-routing the original air traffic towards North and South.

2.)          Second reason: an European relevance

The compliance of the countries of South East Europe with the Single European Sky regulations demonstrates their conformity with the acquis communautaire, and consequently will ease their integration towards the European Union in this respective area of transport.

The Single European Sky as the Air Traffic Management part of the European Common Aviation Area Agreement is an integral part of the acquis communautaire and consequently of the transport chapter in any accession screening exercise of the European Commission. Achieving the criteria of the regulations of Single European Sky reflects the willingness of the countries of SEE to move beyond the traditional national approach to air traffic management towards a more integrated European perspective. The Single European Sky is essentially a regulatory initiative. In my opinion, it brings to the existing  traditional engineering inspired and consensus-driven approach that prevails in this industry a set of clear rules that define the rights but also the responsibilities of the different actors.

3.)     Third reason:  the transition factor (co-operation and regional ownership)

As you be aware the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe has handed over on the 27^th of February 2008 its mandate to the Regional Co-operation Council, a fully regionally owned and led framework, that will from now on oversee regional co-operation networks and processes in South Eastern Europe and support the regional Euro-Atlantic integration. The Secretariat, led by Secretary General Hido Biscevic, will increasingly take over responsibility from the current Secretariat of the Stability Pact in Brussels. An overlap period is envisaged until the end of June 2008. This is the reason why Mr. Biscevic and myself participate together to this important Governing Body meeting. I hope my friend Hido will tell you more about his future work in the framework of the RCC afterwards.

The transition towards the RCC shows me two major changes in the overall attitude and perception of the countries of South East Europe:

a.) the understanding that the perspective to join the European Union expressed in the Thessaloniki Declaration is quite unique and represents a privilege in the relationship between the EU and the region of South East Europe. No other region in the neighborhood of the EU has been given such perspective. More and above, experience of the transition process in Central and Eastern Europe has taught us that the prospect of EU membership, and the ever strengthening embrace of both as countries come closer and closer to actual membership, is the key driver of political and economic reforms which in turn stimulate economic growth.

For me it is clear that the future of South East Europe lies within the European Union. The past enlargement process and the signing of the Treaty of Athens in April 2003 inspire and encourage the countries of South East Europe to follow the same successful path.

Preparation for integration into European structures - and this extension of SEE FABA towards a support program to implement the Single European Sky regulations into South East Europe is certainly one of them in a very important area of the transport sector - and ultimate membership into the European Union, through adoption of European standards, is the challenge ahead. The proposed supporting program of the EC to assist the countries of South East Europe in their efforts to adopt Single European Sky standards shows the continuity of the perspective given by the EC during the EU-Western Balkan Summit in Thessaloniki in 2003.

b.)     the willingness of the countries of SEE to continue and even to intensify their co-operation as well as the process towards regional ownership.

I always reiterate that rapprochement with the EU will go hand in hand with the development of regional co-operation. The countries of South East Europe and, where applicable, other regional participant countries, commit to promote concrete objectives and initiatives, along the lines prescribed by the Thessaloniki Agenda, in the areas of regional free trade, visa, creation of regional markets for electricity and gas, development of transport (all modes), energy and telecommunication infrastructures, environment, cross-border co-operation and parliamentary co-operation. Several co-operation processes have ended in concrete results such as:

• the Energy Community Treaty   - signed between the    countries of the region and the EU;
• the revised Central and Eastern European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) in the region;
• enhanced co-operation on improving the regional investment climate through the newly established SEE Investment Committee;
• the identification of transport priorities based on the Trans - European Corridors;

and

• the European Common Aviation Area, which is the legal framework for Single European Sky regulations and consequently for the support program which we are proposing to you today to be adopted. At this point, I would like to say that by starting to introduce the 4 regulations of Single European Sky in SEE, the region could contribute to the reduction of the fragmentation of airspace, and consequently to the decrease in air traffic costs and to the cutback of CO² emissions.

Coming back to the regional aspect, I would like to mention that a highly interesting feature of regional co-operation is the fact that the countries of the region are moving increasingly into the driving seat and taking over the lead from the international actors. This ownership of regional processes is a crucial development, particularly when one recalls that the EU   - the desired destination of all the SEE parties - is in effect, a massive exercise in regional co-operation. Therefore demonstrating – like in this support program - the ability to co-operate with your neighbors is highly complementary to the overall EU accession process.  

In line with this endeavor of taking over regional ownership, the Stability Pact    is handing over the responsibility for monitoring and promoting regional co-operation processes to the newly created Regional Co-operation Council – the RCC.

Now, I think it is the point – dear Chairman – to pass the floor to the Secretary General of the RCC – Mr. Hido Biscevic. Thank you for your attention.