During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the aviation. The MEPs stressed that a fair competition is needed in the sector, as well as ensuring that companies receive public financial support. Moreover the workers' rights and labour laws must be fully respected.

Impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the aviation: extracts from the debate

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SOUNDBITE (French), Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR), Commissioner, at your first hearing in the Transport Committee, a number of my colleagues talked about the lack of social measures at EU level. The need to tackle the issue of the bogus self-employed. We cannot allow these companies to outsource their workers and their basis pilots. For example, we are halfway through the Commission's term and the Commission, I regret to note, has not come forward with proposals yet.

SOUNDBITE (French), Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR), I would like to talk about conditionality of any aid issued to the aviation sector. The aviation sector has received some 30 billion euros in public aid around. Europe with no counter requirements. Be it social or environmental. Commissioner, when it comes to the Green Deal, we cannot sign a blank cheque using taxpayers' money without expecting that airlines do something in return to further the green transition. We need to ensure that we make the green transition a success story in this sector.

SOUNDBITE (English), Lucia &#270;URI&#352; NICHOLSONOV&#193; (Renew, SK), Despite the state aid schemes, most of the airlines are still struggling to return to pre-pandemic activity levels. Despite some improvements regarding the travel restrictions and the vaccination campaign, it is feared that the difficulties that the airlines sectors are facing could lead to more job cuts and further downgrading of terms and conditions. Therefore, it is our duty to ensure a fair competition. It is our duty to ensure that companies receiving public financial support fully respect the workers' rights and labour laws.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adina-Ioana V&#258;LEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, Member states can also compensate undertake for damages suffered directly as a result of government restrictions put in place to contain the spread of the COVID-19 based on Article 107 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. In addition, member states may also provide rescue or restructuring support to specific airlines or airports, just as they do with other sectors impacted by the crisis.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adina-Ioana V&#258;LEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, Additional financial support for the sector, including the support of the employees, can be provided from the Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and Territories of Europe, European Social Fund Plus, or from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers. To give you an example, the latter has already supported 1200 displaced workers from the aviation sector in the Netherlands. 500 displaced workers from the aviation sector in Finland and 1500 displaced workers in ground handling in Belgium.

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Johan DANIELSSON (S&amp;D, SE), There are legal problems when it comes to the provision of services. For example, people recruited outside the local area are less than those recruited locally, and that's the case in many industries now. Often salaries and labour conditions and also social security are not those where the airline actually operates or where the worker is based, but the country in which the airline is headquartered.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Jos&#233; Ram&#243;n BAUZ&#193; D&#205;AZ (Renew, ES), The recovery of the airline industry is uncertain, and it requires determined support from the European Union to protect companies and, of course, jobs. So we need a specific European plan for the recovery of the airline sector based on three pillars. Firstly: public private aid. We should be incorporating public private cooperation here. Then: legal and operational certainty. We need to stop all of these abusive labour practises. And thirdly, and very important: fundamental institutional support, political commitment.

SOUNDBITE (German), Helmut GEUKING (EPP, DE), The worst thing about this crisis is innovation. Research did not take place because of lack of money in the past. So we need alternative propulsion mechanisms, alternate fuels. This is urgently needed. That has to be our focus to make progress. We need to look at propulsion methods, modernise them, ensure that they are environmentally sustainable. We need to retrofit airlines. Any aircraft that are older than 18 years must be hauled out service. We need a modern, innovative concept that we can all firmly support in Europe.

Impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the aviation: extracts from the debate

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