MEP Isabelle Durant, Belgium's ex-Minister of Transport, thinks Europe has become too dependent on air travel and that the very cheap cost of flying has damaged other modes of transport. Closing European air space was a difficult political decision, but i

Interview: The problem is our excessive dependence on air traffic - MEP Durant

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15012163/N003-0059-EN.srt

As the former Belgian transport minister   you're very familiar with air travel issues.

Traffic is slowly starting   to get moving again,

after the cancellation of 95,000 flights

and millions of passengers   being stranded.

Many MEPs have come forward   to denounce this unprecedented mess.

Yes, if it's to protest on behalf of   travellers who've had a tough few days.

But protesting isn't enough.   What were the causes?

The cause is an erupting volcano.   It's predictable yet unpredictable.

Above all else, nature has highlighted   that it's time to wake up

because the problem is that we have   become too dependent on air travel,

dependent to such an extent,   that the smallest grain of sand

or ash cloud from a volcano   brings everything to a standstill

The real problem is our huge   dependence on air travel,

the fragility of this sector   and the fact that for years,

for the last 15 years in fact,   we've let air travel,

which has had no competition   in terms of prices,

take over from other modes of transport.

Today, we don't have the patience   to cross Europe in 5 or 6 hours.

that gets us there in an hour.   That's the problem.

Another question is how the EU and   Member States have dealt with the crisis.

The French Transport Minister   criticised the 48-hour delay

in making a decision, at a European level.

We don't have enough power in   Europe and should have much more.

As minister, 10 years ago, I'd already   discussed the Single European Sky.

A lot needs to be done so that the   decision lies wholly in European hands.

It annoys me to hear   national leaders moaning.

It would be more helpful if   they cooperated more in meetings

So, Eurocontrol has   a relatively small role.

They can inform and advise   but don't make the decisions.

It's too easy for ministers   to accuse Europe.

the creation of united   European air traffic regulations.

Who's at fault? Is it the lobbyists,   the air traffic controllers?

Who exactly is blocking the Single   European Sky project?

It's various groups but mostly   it's the desire of the Member States

to keep control of their   air traffic controllers,

of air traffic control itself and the   transfer of information to Eurocontrol.

All this is considered, particularly in   the big states, as a national prerogative.

It's less true in small countries   who are used to working with others.

It's the precautionary principle   that justified the closing of air space.

But now it seems that tests,   to help arrive at certain decisions

hadn't been carried out   or were done late in the day.

Are there specific procedures   we should put in place quickly?

Things can be improved obviously.   How do we decide to close air space?

All that said, if there's any doubt, the   precautionary principle comes into play

and air space should be closed.   We were right to do that,

despite it causing all these problems.   It's a difficult political decision.

Perhaps we could be better informed   in future and have more tests,

more rational criteria in order   to be able to make better decisions.

It's a tough political decision. It's the   politician who will be judged responsible

if a problem arises.   I think it was the correct decision,

despite it inconveniencing   lots of people.

They should be the first to be   compensated, not the airlines.

On 5 and 6 May,   there'll be a new plenary session,

which will be held in Brussels this time.

Until then, it seems the Icelandic volcano   will still be erupting.

What plans should   the Parliament put in place

Things shouldn't depend on   a volcano or anything else,

or on air travel which one day,   with the increasing shortage of oil,

will no longer be affordable. We should   maybe organise things differently.

I advocate us considering the possibility   of working 5-day weeks,

instead of 3-day weeks,   so we have more intensive weeks.

That way, we'll decrease   the amount of travelling,

both for those coming by plane   and those on the train.

We could organise   our work schedules better.

I don't want to bring up the issue   of a single seat for the Parliament,

of which I am an advocate.   But this is not the right time.

With recent events,   it's not appropriate.

Let's talk about that in depth   at another time.

Thank you, Isabelle Durant.   - You're welcome.