Following heated negotiations among European Parliament’s parties, the College of 26 Commissioners obtained the green light from MEPs to set the official start of their mandate on the 1st of December.  The process put the spotlight on new power dynamics in the Parliament with the lack of a clear ruling coalition and a powerful EPP. As future European aviation policy seeks to strike a delicate balance between decarbonisation and competitiveness, EBAA remains committed to ensuring that the economic and innovative role of business aviation is fully recognised.

Commission’s approval highlights EPP’s central role in the new balance of power

As the hearings of all the commissioners before the European Parliament came to an end, the centrist parties – European People’s Party (EPP), the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), and Renew Europe – found themselves at an impasse. For over a week, they debated the nominations of Raffaele Fitto, the Italian Commissioner-designate from the hard-right ECR party, who faced opposition from S&D and Renew, and Teresa Ribera, the Spanish nominee for S&D, whose candidacy was contested by the EPP. The deadlock was resolved through an agreement centred on broad objectives, signed by the three parties, committing them to collaborate over the next five years. This was followed by a European Parliament Plenary vote on 27th November, approving the “von der Leyen II” Commission.

The balance of power emerging from the hearings has positioned the centre-right EPP as the driving force behind any future compromises in Parliament. This dominance is reinforced by the composition of the Commission: 14 commissioners are from the EPP, including von der Leyen herself, while the liberals hold 5 seats, the S&D have 4, and the ECR is represented by a single commissioner.

The majorities required to pass legislation will likely shift on a case-by-case basis, depending on the specific issue at hand, placing the EPP in a privileged position to secure majorities by pivoting between the left and right as needed.

The EU’s approach to aviation prioritises decarbonisation and competitiveness

Ursula von der Leyen has structured the allocation of portfolios among the 26 commissioners by establishing two distinct levels of power: 6 executive vice presidents and 20 regular commissioners. Additionally, she has assigned the responsibility for the same policy area to multiple commissioners, leading to blurred boundaries between portfolios. Aviation policy is no exception to this approach, with responsibilities distributed across 4 commissioners who will need to collaborate to shape policies in this area: Teresa Ribera (Spain), Apostolos Tzitzikostas (Greece), Wopke Hoekstra (Netherlands), and Stéphane Séjourné (France).

It is evident that the Commission’s policy mix for aviation aspires to reconcile the decarbonisation objectives set in the previous term with a renewed focus on fostering competitiveness, echoing the approach championed by Mario Draghi in his breakthrough report to revitalise Europe’s economic growth.

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Greek Commissioner for Transport and Tourism, announced the creation of a Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) to encourage European investments in renewable fuels, including SAF. While he expressed scepticism about the immediate introduction of a Book and Claim (B&C) system, he acknowledged the possibility of revisiting this issue during the upcoming revision of the ReFuelEU Regulation.

Wopke Hoekstra, Dutch Commissioner for Climate and Taxation, emphasised that extra-EU flights could be included in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) if there is no substantial progress at the ICAO level. He highlighted aviation as one of the few transport sectors where emissions are still trending higher, highlighting the urgency of action. On the topic of taxation, Hoekstra noted that while it remains a potential tool, the Commission’s powers in this area are limited as it is a policy area requiring unanimity from the 27 European Member States.

Moreover, Stéphane Séjourné, the French Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, confirmed that the long-awaited Clean Industrial Strategy will be presented within the first 100 days of the Commission. This strategy will include a dedicated section focused on the aeronautical industry.

EBAA strives to put business aviation at the centre of EU aviation policy

Looking at this emerging political landscape in the EU through the lens of EBAA reveals reasons for cautious optimism for the business aviation sector. On the one hand, the fragmented distribution of power within the Commission will necessitate engagement with a larger and more diverse group of decision-makers whose agendas may, at times, diverge or conflict. On the other hand, the rightward shift in the EU’s political balance, coupled with the renewed emphasis on competitiveness, could result in a more favourable stance towards a sector that delivers significant productivity gains to European businesses and brings continuous technological advancements in aviation.

In light of this mixed scenario, EBAA advocacy work will be guided by its policy manifesto focused on 3 main pillars: Enabling business aviation to reach net-zero by 2050; Investing in a strong European aviation manufacturing industry; and Safeguarding a competitive and fair European single market for business aviation operators.

EBAA’s efforts will be twofold: focusing on overseeing the implementation of fit-for-55 legislation while identifying and capitalising on opportunities for business aviation arising from new proposals.