Brussels, 3 December – Senior representatives of the European aerospace industry were gathered this week in Brussels for a series of events during which they raised awareness of the challenges faced by the sector, as well as of its initiatives in the fields of innovation and the environment. On the occasion of this ‘AeroWeek’, industry leaders presented to key European decision-makers - such as Commission Vice-President Kallas and several Members of the European Parliament - a policy manifesto containing a series of strategic recommendations on the future of European aerospace.

Against a backdrop of rising global competition in the aerospace sector, ‘technological leadership is becoming the major competitive differentiator’, says the manifesto drafted by ASD (the association representing the European aerospace industry in Brussels). ‘It is a leadership that Europe enjoys today, it is not guaranteed for our future without sustained investment’, ASD underlines. In the manifesto the European aerospace industry calls on the EU to develop an industrial policy for aeronautics, and to support the deployment of SESAR (the Single European Sky ATM programme), addressing all aspects of its funding. ASD also wants to see an aeronautics thematic priority included in the 8th Framework Programme, with dedicated funds.

[Please find the ASD Policy Manifesto, entitled ‘Flying towards Europe’s future’, attached to this e-mail.]

AeroWeek consisted of 3 days of conferences, round-tables and exhibitions organised under the sponsorship of Dominique Baudis MEP, Vice-Chair of the Sky and Space Intergroup of the European Parliament, and with the support of the Belgian presidency of the EU Council. During the event prominent industry representatives such as Domingo Ureña-Raso, CEO of EADS-CASA and President of ASD, Tom Enders, CEO of Airbus, and Jean-Paul Herteman, CEO of Safran, debated with EU policy-makers on important issues such as the deployment  phase of SESAR and the preparation of the EU White Paper on transport.

During the event Brian Simpson, Chairman of the Transport Committee in the EP, declared: ‘By investing in the aerospace industry, we are investing in our future. The European Parliament and industry need to work together in order for aerospace and aviation to remain at the high-tech end of what Europe has to give to the world.’ European Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas emphasised during a debate on global competition: ‘We need effective governance and innovative funds for the deployment of Single European Sky technologies. This is a priority for the next Financial Perspectives.’

Contact:

Alexandre Dossat, ASD PR and Communications Manager

Mobile: +32 493 09 79 87; e-mail: alexandre.dossat@asd-europe.org