Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

New opportunities for the increase of competitiveness of European aviation operators outside of the EU should be created, called for the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Ivaylo Moskovski before his counterparts at a discussion on the development of the aviation sector. The talks were held during the EU Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE) on 13 March 2015 in Brussels.

In order to achieve this, we shall broaden cooperation with Turkey and the countries from the Middle East and Africa, thus generating additional air traffic through European airports, underlined Minister Moskovski. He emphasized on the urgent necessity of investments in the increase of capacity of EU airports so as to service the ever growing traffic and avoid its diversion to neighbouring regions.

Minister Moskovski insisted on better access to business opportunities of new markets for the aviation sector in the EU, considering the significant competition world-wide.

“Aviation plays a significant role for the European economy, citizens and industry and our efforts can help the sector grow sustainably, thus generating significant economic benefits”, added the Minister. The legislative framework in the field of civil aviation is to be simplified, as it is among the sectors with the strictest and numerous regulations.

During the TTE Council meeting the Transport Minister pinpointed the necessity to consider the specific characteristics of national markets when discussing the legislative proposals of the so called “market pillar” of the Fourth Railway Package.

Completing the single European railway area and the increase in the share of railway transportations in the total volume of EU transportations shall not be accompanied by competitive pressure that leads to unfavourable social consequences in some member states.

When introducing the principle of competitive awarding of contracts for public services in the railway sector it is necessary to envisage certain exceptions.

In the context of the discussion and Minister’s Moskovski speech Bulgaria supported Luxemburg, Litva and Ireland to maintain the possibility for small markets with a share of less than 1 per cent of the total European railway sector to be excluded from the common regulation on tender procedures and direct awarding of PSO contracts.