Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-05-03-Speech-3-093"
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"en.20000503.6.3-093"2
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". – Mr President, as draftsman for the Industry Committee I just want to pick up on a couple of areas which I think need to be mentioned today. Aviation is without doubt one of the most exciting and stimulating industries. The opportunities for business and job creation during the last decade have played a major part in the economies of countries in Europe and worldwide.
For example, aviation in the UK contributes GBP 10.2 billion a year to the UK GDP and generates and supports 380 000 indirect and induced UK jobs. It transports GBP 35 billion’s worth of UK exports, maintaining unrivalled access to the global market, and this is multiplied ten-fold across the European Community. When I began my career in the aviation industry 30 years ago, very few people could afford to fly. But today, with the liberalisation of the market, flying for most people has become a way of life.
The report covers a number of areas and outlines fairly accurately the way the aviation industry has developed over the last ten years. But in a number of areas there is little recognition by the Commission of the benefits the aviation industry, including aerospace, have brought and I am disappointed by the negative attitude towards the industry in this paper.
One of the key factors in the success of the last 20 years has been the privatisation of the national state-owned industries which began in the 1980s. I also welcome the Commission statement that subsidies have now ceased.
When we look at the choice of routings and so on for the consumer, air fares have come down considerably over the last few years. Fares from the UK are amongst some of the lowest, showing what effect having three major carriers operating out of one country can have on competition and pricing. This has produced the real benefits and other countries need to take a look at this. The report outlines at some length the expansion in capacity which has taken place in the European aviation industry, particularly across the north Atlantic, but that is obviously quite a complicated issue.
I fully accept that there are challenges which need to be addressed such as problems with congestion, in particular air traffic control. However, I believe that the Commission has a responsibility to put forward more balanced views which do not undermine the value and success of an industry which has made an enormous contribution, not only to the countries of the European Union but worldwide."@en1
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