The European Commission is requesting feedback from citizens and stakeholders about the possible establishment of a new institutionalised European partnership on air traffic management (ATM), building on the experience of the SESAR Joint Undertaking.

Running until 27 August, the consultation is part of an impact assessment required for all partnerships, which might be institutionalised based on Articles 185 and 187 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), within the framework of the future EU’s future research and innovation (R&I) programme for 2021-2027.

The proposed partnership will coordinate all ATM research, development and validation activities in the EU. Its priorities, composition and governance of any new partnership will need to be reviewed to ensure that it addresses the new ATM challenges for the EU in the coming decades, such as an increase in air traffic volume and the increasing complexity, digitalisation and automation of ATM services. More specifically, and in line with the EU's ‘smart mobility’ ambitions, air transport must become better connected to other modes of transport to serve businesses and the general public more efficiently and to reduce aviation's environmental footprint.