Aviation

Aviation Conference: Europe's Flight Plan to a Sustainable Future | 9 April 2024

Join us for an insightful discussion on shaping a sustainable future for the aviation sector at the Aviation Conference: Europe’s Flight Plan to a Sustainable Future. This event is hosted by the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mobility, Mr Georges Gilkinet.

Event details

Do you have any questions? Contact us at be24eventaviation@mobilit.fgov.be.

Georges Gilkinet, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mobility: "To decarbonise our mobility by 2050, we must start now! Aviation must also become more sustainable from an environmental, social, and economic point of view. As part of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU and considering the next European legislature, I am delighted to bring together key stakeholders to shape Europe’s flight plan to a sustainable future. I firmly believe that only through dialogue and confrontation of ideas we can effectively address these challenges and facilitate the transition of aviation towards zero CO₂ emissions and a greater sustainability."

Goal

In the coming years, the aviation sector will be facing major challenges to become sustainable. The entire aviation industry must be able to carry out its operations without compromising the well-being of current and future generations. This entails significant changes for both the industry and regulators.

Several actions have already been taken at the European level to move forward. An example is the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, which provides a harmonised framework for the uptake and supply of sustainable aviation fuels. With the new EU legislative term in sight, it is imperative to consider the actions already in place and their follow-up while also thinking of new actions that need to be taken.

This event will focus on the three dimensions - environmental, social, and economic - of sustainability.

Provisional programme

The speeches and panels to be held over the course of the one-day event will feature high-level guests such as the Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

8:30 Registration and coffee

Introduction
9:30

Welcome speeches

Master of Ceremonies

Mr Georges GILKINET, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mobility

Mr Koen MILIS, Director General, Belgian Civil Aviation Authority

Mr Juan Carlos SALAZAR, Secretary General, International Civil Aviation Organisation

Ms Adina-Ioana VALEAN, European Commissioner for Transport
10:05

Introduction

Mr  Wouter DEWULF, Professor, Department of Transport and Regional Economics, University of Antwerp
10:15 Coffee break
Panel 1 : Ensuring the level playing field with non-European players
10:45

Introductory remark by the moderator

Key questions:

  • What do we mean by level playing field?
  • Are current instruments such as fair competition clauses in multilateral agreements or regulation (EU) 2019/712 fit for their intended purposes?
  • Should we consider additional measures to level playing field, such as advocating multilateral instruments?

Panellists:

  • Mr Wouter DEWULF, Professor, Department of Transport and Regional Economics, University of Antwerp
  • Mr Emmanuel VIVET, Chief Negotiator for Air Services Agreements, Direction générale de l’aviation civile (French CAA)
  • Mr Carlos BERMEJO ACOSTA, Head of Aviation Agreements Unit, DG MOVE Aviation 
  • Ms Dorothea VON BOXBERG, Chief Executive Officer, Brussels Airlines 
  • Ms Alejandra CRUZ ROSS, Transport Specialist, International Labour Organization
12:00 Walking lunch
Panel 2 :  Achieving the most environmentally friendly sky in the world with ATM measures
13:30

Introductory remark by the moderator

Key questions:

  • What role could air traffic management measures play in mitigating the impact of air transport on climate change?
  • Which policy options regarding climate change should be implemented to accelerate the benefits of ATM measures?
  • Which challenges are specifically associated with non-CO2 effects?

Panellists:

  • Ms Marylin BASTIN, Acting Director, European Green Sky Directorate, EUROCONTROL

  • Mr Johann Friedrich COLSMAN, Director General Aviation, Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (German CAA)

  • Mr Luc TYTGAT, High Representative of the Executive Director, European Union Aviation Safety Agency

  • Mr Andreas BOSCHEN, Executive Director,  SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking

  • Ms Peggy DEVESTEL, Chief Operations Officer, skeyes

  • Mr William TODTS, Executive Director, Transport & Environment 

  • Mr Luc LAVEYNE, Senior Advisor on ATM and Innovation, ACI EUROPE 
14:50 Coffee break
Panel 3 : Maintaining and promoting high social standards for aircrew
15:20

Introductory remark by the moderator

Key questions:

  • Are current social practices fair for aircrew members ? How can we reinforce social standards in practice ? What are the best practices?
  • What further actions need to be taken at the European level to ensure high social standards in our industry, including regulatory, organisational, and information-sharing measures?
  • What role can national civil aviation authorities play to promote high social standards for aircrew ?  

Panellists:

  • Mr Yves JORENS, Senior Full Professor of (European) Social Security Law and Social Criminal Law, Ghent University

  • Ms Ana VIEIRA DA MATA, Chairwoman of the Board, Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil (Portuguese CAA)

  • Mr Patrick ARPINO, Professional Affairs Director, European Cockpit Association

  • Mr Jan DRAHOKOUPIL, Head of Analysis and Risk Assessment, European Labour Authority

  • Mr Herman CARPENTIER, Chairman of social working group, European Network Airlines’ Association

  • Ms Sabine TRIER, Deputy General Secretary, European Transport Worker’s Federation
Political Panel : future EU legislation for a sustainable aviation
16:30

Introductory remark by the moderator

Key questions:

  • Should the EU legislative framework be strengthened to increase the environmental sustainability in the aviation sector? If yes, how?
  • Should the EU legislative framework be strengthened to ensure high social standards in the aviation sector? If yes, how?

Panellists:

  • Mr Marian-Jean MARINESCU, Group of the European People's Party

  • Mr Bogusław LIBERADZKI, Group of the Socialists & Democrats 
Conclusions
17:20

Mr Georges GILKINET, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mobility

17:35 Cocktail
19:30 Close of the Aviation Conference

More information on the speakers