Passengers are up in arms about the air crisis that followed in the wake of the Icelandic volcanic eruption. French MEP Christine de Veyrac wants to see the Single European Sky project get off the ground to avoid any repeat, and for passengers and airline

Interview: We need a Single Sky as soon as possible - MEP Christine de Veyrac

You're an MEP and a transport specialist.

criticised Europe's lack of preparation   in this unprecedented crisis.

I think you're a bit more gentle   in your criticism.

You say a lack of preparation, but   you prepare for things you know about.

This was an event   that took us all by surprise.

I don't think anyone thought   that it would last so long.

I'd like to applaud the decision   by most governments

to temporarily close their air space   in a targeted way,

because the most important thing   is the safety of our citizens.

The French Transport Minister   criticised and regretted

He talked of a 48-hour delay   in decision-making.

What I would like most is for the Single   European Sky initiative to be speeded up.

If we had already had   a Single European Sky,

we'd have been able to organise at the   European level to keep aircraft flying.

must be to consolidate   this Single Sky as soon as possible.

Practically, what does   this Single European Sky mean

where we have decisions   taken at the European level

to keep aircraft moving   across our continent.

What are the sticking points   or obstacles?

but we need to put   the finishing touches to it.

I think that's where we need   to put all our efforts.

We've talked about this Single Sky   for years. It's at a standstill.

Is it the fault of Member States   or the lobbies?

Today we have the euro,   but it wasn't created in one day.

I've just seen people   from the postal service

and the postal directives   weren't made in a day.

European defence is a bit stuck at   the moment, but I hope it will move soon.

Europe often makes progress in a crisis.   But it moves slowly, but surely.

We've heard a lot about the principle   of precaution in this crisis.

This principle has been very costly   for passengers, but also for the airlines.

They are now calling for   financial compensation

and you're saying,   "OK, but with conditions." What are they?

It has been very costly for users,   as you say, in monetary terms,

but we still have people today   stuck in different parts of the world.

It has cost the airlines, and it has   also cost all the subcontractors.

Earlier I saw a company that supplies fuel   to airlines that has lost 9 million.

We have to think of all the small   and medium businesses affected.

I welcome the Commission's decision   authorising aid to the airlines,

but we must be careful.   Firstly this aid must be exceptional.

Then we must check, as   Mrs Wortmann-Kool said this morning,

that it is used to compensate for   losses caused by the volcanic eruption

Finally, I'm very keen   that this aid should be given

according to how the airlines have acted   in compensating their clients.

That's complicated.   How can you measure their behaviour?

I won't go into detail,   but I would like the airlines

that have refunded flights   and compensated their passengers

to get more aid   than the ones that did nothing.

On 5 and 6 May another plenary session   will be held, in Brussels this time.

Clearly the volcano in Iceland   will still be erupting.

We may well see   more transport problems.

Isn't it dangerous   for the Parliament's activity?

Can we expect to see more delays   in adopting legislation?

The session on 5-6 May was already   planned as a mini-session. It might be...

I heard today that   the airports are reopening.

It might be bad for legislative activity,

but it's bad for everything,   for economic activity,

for all sectors of our European continent,

and we must hope that things improve   as soon as possible.

Do you think the European Parliament   should encourage MEPs

to use the train   when going to Strasbourg or Brussels?

Of course. There are other possibilities,   but mainly the train.

In France we have a strike today   so we're completely stuck.

We need to develop   European rail networks.

I hope that will be one of   the positive outcomes of this crisis,

that we develop more quickly   trans-European rail networks.