Today, on 26 February 2010, during the official visit in the Republic of Bulgaria of the governmental delegation of Romania, led by the Prime Minister Mr. Emil Bok, the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications of the Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Aleksandar Tsvetkov and the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Romania Mr. Radu Mircea Berceanu signed a Memorandum Of Understanding between the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Romania on cooperation in Air Navigation Services provision matters and for the establishment of a Functional Airspace Block, comprising the National Airspace of the Republic of Bulgaria, the National Airspace of Romania and the airspace included in the scope of the international legal obligations of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania (DANUBE FAB).
The Memorandum establishes the common framework of cooperation between the two states, including their national aviation authorities (the Civil Aviation Authorities), the Air Navigation Service Providers and other stakeholders, aimed at the preparation and the establishment of a Functional Airspace Block. The respective Memoranda of Understanding stemming thereof will be also signed between the aviation authorities and between BULATSA and ROMATSA in the nearest future.
The Memorandum defines the overall management structure of the DANUBE FAB Project, and the roles and the responsibilities at the three levels - the States, the Regulators and the Air Navigation Services Providers. A DANUBE FAB Steering Committee is being set up, comprising representatives of the Ministries of Transport of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania, of the Civil Aviation Authorities and of other designated representatives of ministries and institutions of the two States. Representatives of the EU institutions, including the TEN-T Executive Agency, as well as ICAO, EUROCONTROL and other competent authorities may attend the meetings of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee will manage the Preliminary Design Phase and the Detailed Design and Pre-implementation Phase for the establishment of the DANUBE Functional Airspace Block in compliance with the European Union legislation for the Single European Sky. The Steering Committee will also manage the work of the experts' Working Groups of BULATSA and ROMATSA and of the Civil Aviation Authorities for the preparation of the conditions for the establishment of DANUBE FAB, in compliance with the definition of a Functional Airspace Block, as per Article 2.25 of Regulation (EC) No 549/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 laying down the framework for the creation of the single European sky, including drafts for legislative acts so as to align the national legislation with this framework.
The Steering Committee will prepare an International Agreement for the establishment and operation of the DANUBE FAB, in accordance with the applicable EU legislation, without prejudice to the requirements stemming from the airspace defence and sovereignty obligations, as well as per the international obligations of both States.
Last but not least the Memorandum sets up a common mechanism for management of the project's financing with European Community funds under the TEN-T programme.
A serious and demanding work for the establishment of the DANUBE FAB lies ahead, which will require the excellent cooperation and the serious commitment of all stakeholders from the Bulgarian and the Romanian side. These efforts should be focused towards the consistent steps and coherent actions by the two States for the fulfillment of their obligations within the deadline for FAB establishment set by the EU - 4 December 2012.
