It is my sincere pleasure to host this modest ceremony for the signing of the BLUE MED Functional Airspace Blocks (FAB) State Level Agreement, an extremely significant event, beneficial for all our states, particularly in these challenging times. After thorough study and deliberation we have concluded that this initiative has an added value for our organizations and the aviation community in general. We have managed to establish between us a spirit of cooperation based on trust and mutual respect, and this is an achievement in itself, considering the great differences we have in size and infrastructure. It is in our hands now to transform this good working spirit into practical results.

The current economic climate does not allow us to be as ambitious as we would probably like. For this reason we need to be innovative and look in the FAB for economies of scale, higher efficiency and synergies which will allow us together to do more than what we can do individually. We are not alone in this effort and I know that the European Commission will do its utmost to support us in the implementation of this initiative. The presence here today of Mr. Kallas, the Commissioner on Mobility and Transport, is indicative of the importance the Commission places on this venture.

A comprehensive regulatory framework and pan-european functions designed to drive air navigation services towards higher performance are already in place and this Aviation Summit has shown us the way forward; a way in which FABs have a major role to play. I look forward to BLUE MED playing its own part in contributing towards the vision of a Single Sky over Europe. Let’s also remember the special geographical attributes of BLUE MED, which, being at the periphery of Europe, has the opportunity to extend the Single Sky even beyond the European borders.

I call upon you to consider all these facts, continue cooperating in the same good spirit as we have done so far and provide all our support to our organizations which will work together in the framework of this State Level Agreement. I am certain that today’s signing and all the activities which will follow will lead us safely towards the goal of better and more efficient air navigation services for the whole Community.