EU support for better air traffic management project given green light today

Today, the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) green lighted a key project to improve the management of the European airspace. The project, which is supported under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) with a grant worth €318.5 million, and which will be managed by the SESAR Deployment Manager, will modernise and harmonise Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems and procedures across 24 EU Member States.

It is one of 10 EU supported projects worth a combined €364 million in EU support which are contributing to the realisation of the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) programme. The projects were selected under the 2014 CEF Transport calls, which made €13 billion available to finance projects to improve European transport infrastructure, promote transport safety, develop intelligent transport systems and mitigate the environmental impact of the sector.

INEA Executive Director Dirk Beckers, who personally signed the grant agreement today, remarked: "It is of utmost importance for the European Union to support transport infrastructure projects bringing the continent closer to having one continuous, safe and interconnected transport network. In this context air transport will greatly benefit from improved synergies and integration and the EU will help the sector deliver by supporting key projects."

The project will be implemented by the SESAR Deployment Manager, a body set up specifically to facilitate the implementation of European ATM research and integration. SESAR DM's Managing Director, Mr Massimo Garbini, was present at INEA and also signed the grant agreement noting: “This grant agreement represents a very important step in the actual deployment of SESAR solutions. I see these funds as a key factor in realising the full ATM modernisation in Europe and leveraging the expected benefits for the European economy.”