Background

A consortium of five companies has been selected by the European Commission to implement the Euromed Aviation Project which is financed by the MEDA regional programme with up to 4.99 million euros over three years. The project, which started on 15 January 2007, aims to promote the emergence of an Euro-Mediterranean Common Aviation Area (EMCAA) and to facilitate any future negotiations of comprehensive Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreements with the Mediterranean Partners. 

With the annual number of global air passengers predicted to rise from around 4,5 billion in 2010 to 9 billion in 2025, air traffic will double in the next 15 years worldwide. According to various sources, the Middle East is expected to continue being the fastest growing region, requiring not only new airport infrastructure but also investments in en-route and terminal air traffic control systems. These needs also apply to North Africa.

In December 2005, participants to the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Transport agreed, among other things, on the need to work towards the longer-term objective of a Euro-Mediterranean Common Aviation Area. The Euromed Aviation Project was developed in response to the ministers' wish to see reinforced cooperation with and among the Mediterranean Partners in the field of air transport.

The project Euromed Aviation focuses on five main components:

1. Support an open, healthy & competitive aviation market,

2. Promote improved aviation safety,

3. Promote improved aviation security,

4. Promote improved environmental friendliness of air transport

5. Support regional air traffic management cooperation and harmonisation

Besides, the Project has elaborated a Road Map for the implementation of the Common Aviation Area, as well an Impact Assessment.

An Extension in 2010 (till January 2011) has been added to carry on with these tasks. A new project, Euromed Aviation II, to be launched in 2011, will then pursue these efforts towards the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Common Aviation Area (EMCAA).