Regulation 2014/721 - Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 219/2007 on the establishment of a Joint Undertaking to develop the new generation European air traffic management system (SESAR) as regards the extension of the Joint Undertaking until 2024 - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 192/1

The Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research and Development project (the ‘SESAR project’) aims to modernise the air traffic management (‘ATM’) in Europe and represents the technological pillar of the Single European Sky (‘SES’). It aims to provide the Union with a high performance air traffic control infrastructure by 2030 which will enable the safe and environmentally friendly development of air transport.

The SESAR project is comprised of three interrelated, continuous and evolving collaborative processes: the definition of the content and priorities, the development of new technological systems, components and operational procedures of the SESAR concept, and the deployment plans of the next generation of ATM systems contributing to the achievement of the Single European Sky performance targets.

The first phase of the definition process ran from 2004 to 2008 and delivered the SESAR ATM Master Plan (D5) which was the base for the first edition of the European Air Traffic Management Master Plan (the ‘ATM Master Plan’) endorsed by the Council on 30 March 2009. The ATM Master Plan identifies three steps in the SESAR development process: Time Based operations (Step 1), Trajectory Based Operations (Step 2) and Performance Based Operations (Step 3). The ATM Master Plan is the agreed roadmap to bring ATM research and development to the deployment phase.

The SESAR Joint Undertaking (the ‘Joint Undertaking’) was set up by Council Regulation (EC) No 219/2007 (3), for the purpose of managing the activities of the development process of the SESAR project under the Union's 2007-2013 financial framework. The main task of the Joint Undertaking is the execution of the ATM Master Plan.

The Joint Undertaking's work programme, covered by the Union's 2007-2013 financial framework, addresses all elements of Step 1 and approximately 80 % of Step 2 of the ATM Master Plan. The related activities should be completed by 2016. The remaining activities of Step 2 and those related to Step 3 should start in 2014 under the Union's 2014-2020 financial framework. The cost of these activities has been estimated to be EUR 1,585 billion, including EUR 85 million for exploratory research, EUR 1,2 billion for applied research and pre-industrial development, and EUR 300 million for large-scale demonstrations. Exploratory research activities should be entirely paid from the Union budget. In the light of this the Union budget for the execution of the remaining activities should be supplemented by contributions of industry and Eurocontrol, following the same approach taken during the Union's 2007-2013 financial framework.

In accordance with Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 219/2007, the Joint Undertaking is to cease to exist on 31 December 2016 or eight years after an endorsement by the Council of the ATM Master Plan, whichever is the earlier. The Commission communicated the ATM Master Plan to the Council on 14 November 2008 (4) and the Council endorsed it on 30 March 2009.

The Joint Undertaking fulfils the criteria for public-private partnerships established under Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (5) (‘Horizon 2020 Framework Programme’) and implemented through the specific programme established by Council Decision 2013/743/EU (6).

Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 aims to achieve a greater impact on research and innovation by combining Horizon 2020 Framework Programme and private-sector funds in public-private partnerships in key areas where research and innovation can contribute to the Union's wider competitiveness goals, as well as leveraging private investment, and helping to tackle societal challenges. Those partnerships should be based on long-term commitment, including a balanced contribution from all partners, being accountable for the achievement of their objectives and be aligned with the Union's strategic goals relating to research, development and innovation. The governance and functioning of those partnerships should be open, transparent, effective and efficient and give the opportunity to a wide range of stakeholders active in their specific areas to participate. Union involvement in these partnerships can take the form of financial contributions to joint undertakings established on the basis of Article 187 of the Treaty under Decision No 1982/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (7).

To continue the development of the activities defined in the ATM Master Plan, it is necessary to extend the duration of the Joint Undertaking until 2024, which reflects the duration of the Union's 2014-2020 financial framework and allows an additional four years for completion of the Joint Undertaking's Work Programme and the closing of projects that would be initiated by the end of that financial framework. Such an extension should therefore allow for the execution of the whole ATM Master Plan (step 2 and step 3) as it stands today. With a view to the overall aim of Horizon 2020 Framework Programme to achieve greater simplification and coherence, all calls for proposals under the Joint Undertaking should take into account the duration of Horizon 2020 Framework Programme.

An open call for new members should be organised for the activities to be carried out under the Union's 2014-2020 financial framework.The membership of members of the Joint Undertaking who do not contribute to the activities financed under the Union's 2014-2020 financial framework should be terminated by 31 December 2016.

The Joint Undertaking should continue to be open to and encourage the widest possible participation and representation of stakeholders from all Member States, including small and medium enterprises, through the accession of new members or other forms of participation. Furthermore, participation should ensure a proper balance between airspace users, air navigation service providers, airports, military, professional staff associations and manufacturers, and offer opportunities to SMEs, academia and research organisations.

Horizon 2020 should contribute to the closing of the research and innovation divide within the Union by promoting synergies with the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). Therefore the Joint Undertaking should seek to develop close interactions with the ESIF, which can specifically help to strengthen local, regional and national research and innovation capabilities in the area of the Joint Undertaking and underpin smart specialisation efforts.

The Joint Undertaking should operate in an open and transparent way providing all relevant information in a timely manner to its appropriate bodies, duly addressing sensitive issues such as intellectual property rights (IPR), as well as promoting its activities, including information and dissemination activities to the wider public. The rules of procedure of the bodies of the Joint Undertaking should be made publicly available.

The Joint Undertaking should also use electronic means managed by the Commission to ensure openness, transparency and facilitate participation. Therefore, the calls for proposals launched by the Joint Undertaking should also be published on the single portal for participants as well as through other Horizon 2020 Framework Programme electronic means of dissemination managed by the Commission. Moreover, relevant data on, inter alia, proposals, applicants, grants and participants should be made available by Joint Undertaking for inclusion in the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme reporting and dissemination electronic systems managed by the Commission, in an appropriate format and with the periodicity corresponding to the Commission's reporting obligations.

The experience acquired from the operation of the Joint Undertaking as a Union body under Article 185 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (8) shows that the current framework of operation is sufficiently flexible and adapted to the needs of the Joint Undertaking. The Joint Undertaking should operate in accordance with Article 208 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and the Council (9). The Joint Undertaking should also adopt financial rules which do not depart from the framework Financial Regulation except where its specific needs so require and with the Commission's prior consent.

The participation in indirect actions funded by the Joint Undertaking should comply with Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (10). It is not foreseen that a derogation in accordance with Article 1(3) of that Regulation will be necessary. The Joint Undertaking should, moreover, ensure consistent application of these rules based on relevant measures adopted by the Commission.

In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (11).

Therefore, Regulation (EC) No 219/2007 should be amended accordingly,

Article 1 is amended as follows:

in Article 2a, paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

‘5.   The staff of the Joint Undertaking shall consist of temporary agents and contract agents. The total period of engagement shall not in any case exceed the duration of the Joint Undertaking.’;

Article 4 is amended as follows:

Article 4a is amended as follows:

Article 5 is amended as follows:

Article 6 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 6

Committee procedure

• 1. 

  The Commission shall be assisted by the Single Sky Committee established by Regulation (EC) No 549/2004. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.

• 2. 

  Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply. Where the committee delivers no opinion, the Commission shall not adopt the draft implementing act and the third paragraph of Article 5(4) of Regulation (EU) 182/2011 shall apply.’;

Article 7 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 7

Interim evaluation and report

By 30 June 2017, the Commission shall carry out, with the assistance of independent experts, an interim evaluation on the implementation of this Regulation and the results obtained by the Joint Undertaking, focussing in particular on the impact and effectiveness of these concrete results achieved under the given term, in accordance with the ATM Master Plan. The evaluation shall also cover the working methods, as well as the general financial situation of the Joint Undertaking. The Commission shall prepare a report on that evaluation which includes conclusions of the evaluation and observations by the Commission. The Commission shall send that report to the European Parliament and to the Council by 31 December 2017. The results of the interim evaluation of the Joint Undertaking shall be taken into account in the in-depth assessment and in the interim evaluation referred to in Article 32 of Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013.’;

The Annex is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 5 is amended as follows:

in Article 6, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1.   Members of the Joint Undertaking or of the Administrative Board and Joint Undertaking staff are not allowed to participate in the preparation, evaluation or the award procedure of financial support from the Joint Undertaking, in particular following calls for tender or calls for proposals if they own, represent or have agreements with bodies which are potential candidates or applicants.’;

in Article 7, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

‘2.   The Executive Director shall be engaged as a temporary agent of the Joint Undertaking under Article 2(a) of the Conditions of employment of other servants. The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Administrative Board, from a list of candidates proposed by the Commission, following an open and transparent selection procedure.

For the purpose of concluding the contract with the Executive Director, the Joint Undertaking shall be represented by the Chairperson of the Administrative Board.

The term of office of the Executive Director shall be five years. By the end of that period, the Commission shall undertake an assessment that takes into account an evaluation of the performance of the Executive Director and the Joint Undertaking's future tasks and challenges.

The Administrative Board, acting on a proposal from the Commission, which takes into account the assessment referred to in the third subparagraph of this paragraph, may extend the term of office of the Executive Director once for no more than five years.

An Executive Director whose term of office has been extended may not participate in another selection procedure for the same post at the end of the overall period.

The Executive Director may be removed from office only upon a decision of the Administrative Board acting on a proposal from the Commission.’;

in Article 9, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1.   In order to carry out the tasks defined in Article 1(5) of this Regulation, the Joint Undertaking may conclude specific agreements with and award grants to its members, in accordance with the applicable financial regulations.’;

Article 10 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 10

Contracts and grants

• 1. 

  Notwithstanding Article 9, the Joint Undertaking may conclude service and supply contracts or grant agreements with undertakings or a consortium of undertakings, in particular to carry out the tasks provided for in Article 1(5) of this Regulation.

• 2. 

  The Joint Undertaking shall ensure that the contracts and grant agreementsreferred to in paragraph 1 provide for the right of the Commission to carry out controls in order to ensure that the financial interests of the Union are protected.

• 3. 

  The contracts and grant agreements referred to in paragraph 1 shall include all appropriate provisions relating to the intellectual property rights referred to in Article 18. In order to avoid any conflict of interest, members involved in defining work that is subject to a procurement or grant procedure, including their staff seconded under Article 8, may not take part in carrying out that work.’;

in Article 12(3), the first subparagraph is replaced by the following:

‘3.   The members referred to in the second indent of Article 1(2) shall undertake to pay a minimum initial contribution of EUR 10 million within a period of one year from when their accession to the Joint Undertaking is accepted. This amount shall be reduced to EUR 5 million for members that subscribe to the Joint Undertaking within 24 months of its constitution or after a call for new membership.’;

Article 13, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

‘2.   Any interest yielded by the contributions paid by the members of the Joint Undertaking shall be considered to be revenue of the Joint Undertaking.’;

In Article 16(1), the introductory part is replaced by the following:

‘1.   The Joint Undertaking shall draw up its work programme on the basis of the financial framework referred to in Article 4(2) of this Regulation and on the basis of sound management and accountability principles setting out clear deliverables and milestones. It shall consist of:’;

Article 17 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 17

Protection of the Union's financial interests

• 1. 

  The Joint Undertaking shall take appropriate measures ensuring that, when actions financed under this Regulation are implemented, the financial interests of the Union are protected by the application of preventive measures against fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities, by effective checks and, if irregularities are detected, by the recovery of the amounts wrongly paid and, where appropriate, by effective, proportional and deterrent penalties.

• 2. 

  The Commission or its representatives and the Court of Auditors shall have the power of audit, on the basis of documents as well as on-the-spot, over all grant beneficiaries, contractors and subcontractors who have received Union funds.

• 3. 

  The European Anti-Fraud Office (“OLAF”) shall be authorised to carry out on-the-spot checks and inspections on economic operators concerned directly or indirectly by such funding in accordance with the procedures laid down in Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 (1) with a view to establishing that there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union in connection with a grant agreement or decision or a contract concerning Union funding.

• 4. 

  Without prejudice to paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, cooperation agreements with international organisations, grant agreements, decisions and contracts resulting from the implementation of this Regulation shall expressly entitle the Commission, the Court of Auditors and OLAF to conduct such audits, on-the-spot checks and inspections.

• (1) 

  Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities (OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2.).’;"

Article 24 is deleted.