International Transportation | Collection 2023 6 Photo: © Ivan Shimko / Unsplash Photo: Alexandre Lallemand / Unsplash Single European Sky: New framework for interoperability rules T he European Commission has adopted a new set of rules to better manage interoperability between the systems and constituents used to provide air traffic management (ATM) and air navigation services (ANS). The new framework, comprising five regulations, will increase interoperability, make the performance of ATM ground equipment more uniform, and support the introduction of innovative technologies. Ultimately, this will lead to a more modern European ATM network. The new rules take a single market approach, reducing fragmentation within the ATM ground equipment market, and clearly allocating responsibilities for demonstrating compliance, in particular on the detailed specifications that will be now issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). They also strengthen EASA’s role as certifying authority for both airborne and ground equipment, ensuring that both are done consistently. With digitalisation and data exchange between systems on the ground and in the air becoming more common, it now makes sense from a safety perspective to apply the same approach to both system sets. Finally, the new conformity assessment framework consolidates existing interoperability rules, adapting them to the EASA framework. This includes, for example, rules on the equipment required on board aircraft for the use of the SES airspace, common requirements for ATM/ ANS providers concerning datalink and surveillance, as well as flight planning elements within the Standardised European Rules of the Air. The Single European Sky (SES) also needs reform in other areas to effectively govern the performance of monopoly air navigation service providers, as well as to enable network-centric operations orchestrated by the European Network Manager. This will address the air congestion that has a negative impact on the climate and environment. The ongoing negotiations between the European Parliament and Council on SES2+ address these problems. The new rules replace eight SES interoperability implementing regulations: •• A delegated act on the rules for conformity assessment of ATM ground equipment introducing a regime with certification and declarations; •• An implementing act on approval of design and production organisations concerning obligations and privileges of such organisations (Regulation (EU) 2023/ 1769); •• An implementing act on airspace usage requirements concerning required equipment on board the aircraft used for communication, navigation and surveillance for the use of European airspace (Regulation (EU) 2023/ 1770); •• An amendment to the ATM/ ANS common requirements regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/ 1771); and •• An amendment to the Standardised European Rules of the Air regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/ 1772). With the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2018/ 1139 (the new EASA Basic Regulation), the Interoperability Regulation was repealed, although some elements continued to apply provisionally until September 2023. The European Parliament and Council tasked the Commission with developing - within these five years - a new set of rules to govern the interoperability of systems and constituents. The EASA Basic Regulation also mandates the development of rules as regards the certification or declaration of ATM ground equipment and for organisations involved in their design or production. https: / / ec.europa.eu EU mobility update Selected mobility guidelines and new regulations in Europe FOCUS European Union International Transportation | Collection 2023 7 European Union FOCUS European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) fit for purpose A Commission evaluation of Regulation (EU) 2018/ 1139 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (‘EASA’) has given a positive appraisal of EASA’s performance and added value. The evaluation assessed the Regulation’s effectiveness in reaching its objectives, efficiency, relevance in responding to the stakeholder needs, coherence with other EU legislation and policy actions, and its overall EU added value. The evaluation also reviewed EASA’s performance in relation to its objectives, mandate, and tasks. The findings are analysed in an accompanying Staff Working Document. EASA has been very successful in delivering on its tasks and Regulation (EU) 2018/ 1139 continues to provide a sound legal framework for the Agency’s operations. It has succeeded in its core tasks of rulemaking, certification and standardisation, and fulfils its role in ensuring common rules and standards for aviation safety are applied. EASA is at the forefront of developing and implementing innovative technologies, such as unmanned aircraft systems and electric aircraft, among others. This will help Europe maintain its international competitiveness in the aviation and aircraft manufacturing sectors. Despite some identified areas for improvement - one of them being appropriate long-term financing for EASA’s activities - aviation stakeholders consider the overall quality of the system as very good. The results of this evaluation are contained in a report adopted by the Commission on 12 September 2023. https: / / transport.ec.europa.eu/ document/ download/ 9778fd57-82c0-421b-86caa623cd43242b_en Rail Transport: New harmonised EU standards to support cross-border rail T he European Commission published a package of revised technical standards to improve rail interoperability across borders - the so-called ‘Technical Specifications for Interoperability’ (TSIs). The 2023 TSI package is considered as a key milestone along the path to making smooth cross-border train trips across the EU a reality, but should also clear the way for new innovative technologies. TSIs applied across the EU make the EU rail sector more efficient because they eliminate 25 different sets of national rules. Reducing complexity and parallel rules helps to improve affordability and lower the basic cost of rail operations. Ultimately, the sector will respond better to the needs of long distance, cross-border services, and be able to a wider, more innovative range of rail services to citizens and transport clients. Too often, national rules still force trains to stop at borders, when driving from one EU country to another. The cost of stopping trains at internal EU borders, and having to change crews and locomotives that are not certified for the next network’s national requirements, has slowed down the development of truly European services. The revised TSIs modernise and harmonise current technical standards for rail, eliminating the need for national rules that complicate cross-border rail operations. The revised standards also align with TEN-T requirements and introduce a common framework for technical and operating conditions for ERTMS, the European Rail Traffic Management System, and combined transport, granting more flexibility for operators in intermodal transport, for example. They also reflect recent technological developments, introducing rail innovation in a consistent manner. They pave the way for automatic train operations over ERTMS and digitalise technical and operating information for train drivers and rail staff, such as common infrastructure route and rule books for example, ensuring access to rail network knowledge. The revised TSIs entered into force on 28 September 2023. https: / / eur-lex.europa.eu/ legal-content/ EN/ TXT/ ? uri=OJ: L: 2023: 222: TOC Photo: © 46173 / pixabay EU funding for alternative fuels infrastructure T he European Commission announced 26 projects from twelve Member States that will receive funding to install alternative fuels infrastructure along the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). These projects will accelerate the creation of the comprehensive network of alternative refuelling infrastructure needed for the widespread use of low-and zero-emission vehicles in all transport modes. It is the second AFIF funding round of 2023 after March 2023. Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean said: “The numerous applications for AFIF funding received underline the transport industry’s interest in pushing ahead with the switch to more sustainable transport - on roads, in the sky and at sea. Our investment of EUR 352 million will translate into approximately 12,000 charging points, 18 hydrogen refuelling stations, and the electrification of ports and airports, including the port of Rotterdam and 37 Spanish airports. More information: https: / / cinea.ec.europa. eu/ news-events/ news/ transport-infrastructure-over-eur-352-million-eu-fundingboost-greener-mobility-2023-09-11_en