2.1 EU policy framework supporting the modernisation of ATM

In 2004, the EU established the SES initiative as a holistic framework aimed at harmonising and improving the performance of ATM in terms of safety, capacity, cost-efficiency and environmental impact. SES builds on five interrelated and interdependent pillars: economic aspects; airspace organisation / network management; technological innovation; safety; and the human dimension (see Figure 1).

SES plays an important role in achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal and the EU’s sustainable and smart mobility strategy (1), and together with other measures (e.g. RefuelEU (2)) supports the green and digital transitions of the transport sector. The objectives of these twin transitions are to reduce emissions and to facilitate connectivity in a seamless and resilient multimodal transport network. This is crucial for reaching climate neutrality by 2050, as outlined by the long-term aspirational goal of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and by the EU’s ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030 compared with 1990 levels. SES continues to contribute to the priorities set out in the European Commission’s 2024–2029 political guidelines (3). Changes in the SES policy framework are designed to make European airspace more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly ⁽⁴⁾. The SESAR project is the technological innovation pillar of the SES and is an essential enabler of the other SES pillars (see Figure 1).

SESAR aims to deliver the Digital European Sky, a modern ATM system providing Europe with a high-performance, standardised and interoperable ATM infrastructure. SESAR is implemented through an ATM innovation cycle comprising definition, development and deployment phases.

• The definition phase refers to the long-term vision of the SESAR project, which is captured in the European ATM Master Plan. This plan provides the strategic direction and priorities for future development and deployment.
• The development phase covers research, development and validation activities aimed at delivering mature SESAR Solutions for deployment.
• The deployment phase covers the industrialisation of SESAR Solutions (e.g. standardisation, production and certification of ground and airborne equipment and processes necessary to implement SESAR Solutions) and their implementation (e.g. procurement, installation and putting into service of equipment and systems building on SESAR Solutions).

The full effectiveness of SESAR relies on the coordination of the phases of the ATM innovation cycle.

The EU supports innovation in aviation through its research programme Horizon Europe (5), establishing the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking (SESAR 3 JU) (6) to develop and deliver the Digital European Sky, and the Clean Aviation JU [7) to pave the way for the zero-emission aircraft of the future. The EU also supports the deployment of SESAR in the form of Digital Sky Demonstrators and Common Projects (8) through its infrastructure programme Connecting Europe Facility (9). Common Projects are coordinated by the EU-appointed SESAR Deployment Manager (10).

The green and digital transitions in the air transport sector require a collective and synergetic effort from stakeholders across the entire aviation sector. In this context, close civil–military collaboration in delivering the Digital European Sky is vital to the EU’s future security and defence strategy in the air domain, ensuring the protection and effective use of the airspace (11).

The Digital European Sky covers the full geographical scope of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) area, and the underlying modernisation effort is closely coordinated and implemented by a wide range of individual operational stakeholders, air and ground systems manufacturers, professional staff, research bodies and many organisations representing stakeholders at the European level. The cooperative framework also involves institutional bodies such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL), including the Network Manager (NM); the European Defence Agency; the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE); the SESAR 3 JU; and the SESAR Deployment Manager. Each one of these stakeholders plays an important role in the ATM innovation cycle. These roles are largely defined in EU legislation.

Figure 1: ATM innovation cycle

The EU sees ATM modernisation as a global effort. Through cooperation with ICAO and partners in other regions of the world, Europe aims to maintain its technological and industrial leadership in aviation by shaping global standards and ensuring global interoperability and harmonisation. These efforts are vital prerequisites for safe, secure, efficient and sustainable global ATM.