Siim Kallas, European Commission Vice-President with responsibility for transport, welcomed Member States support for the Commission's proposal on the revision of current EU rules on groundhandling services.
The agreement with ministers safeguards the two key elements at the heart of the Commission's groundhandling proposals:
1. Airlines need more choice in who provides their services on the ground – that means at least three providers at every major airport.
Ensuring full opening of the self-handling market for airlines and increase in the minimum number of service providers (in restricted services) from two to three at large airports: this will ensure that airlines have an increased choice of groundhandling solutions at EU airports.
2. High-quality services rely on a high-quality workforce – that means reinforcing stable employment terms for those working on the ground.
Allowing Member States to go further in protecting workers' rights so staff can transfer under existing conditions when a contract goes to a new provider: this is essential to provide the stable employment conditions necessary to maintain a high-quality workforce in what is a labour-intensive sector.
Next steps
The proposal must still be voted by the European Parliament in first reading. The proposed regulation on groundhandling services is the first of three legislative proposals of the "Better airports package". Further to the discussion on groundhandling, the Commission expects the Council to work on the noise and slot regulations, with the Presidency indicating that it will start with noise as early as next week in the working group.
Source: European Commission