Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

Minister of Transport, IT and Communications of Bulgaria, Ivaylo Moskovski and the State Secretary of Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Romania, Alessandro Nazaré signed the Agreement of establishing a functional airspace block DANUBE FAB. The signing ceremony took place in Brussels at the EU Council of Transport, Telecommunications and Energy, chaired by Poland. It was attended by the Vice President of the European Commission, Mr. Kallas and the General Director of Energy and Transport, Matthias Ryute.

The signing of this Agreement is a key element in building a functional block of airspace between Bulgaria and Romania in accordance with the laws of the Single European Sky and the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries signed on February 26, 2010.

The Agreement establishes the governance structure of DANUBE FAB with clearly defined roles and responsibilities of the country, military authorities, regulators and service providers. The objectives, areas of cooperation and mechanisms within the DANUBE FAB are also defined.

Both countries are committed to optimize the capacity of its air space, to increase fuel efficiency and safety levels and to ensure sustainability of the environment. This will contribute to the sustainable development of air transport. DANUBE FAB is basis for improving regional cooperation and expansion of the single European sky outside the EU.

"DANUBE FAB is open to accession by third countries," the minister said. He also noted that the expansion of functional airspace blocks will provide new opportunities for cooperation and will contribute to the implementation of the Single European Sky initiative.

The next step is ratification of the Bulgarian and Romanian Parliament, to be followed the date forconstruction of the functional blocks of airspace in Europe - December 4, 2012.