Ladies and gentlemen,

Its an honor to be here to discuss the present and future of Europes airports, which are central to our vision for stronger, sustainable, and competitive aviation.

This is especially relevant as I just attended the Paris Air Show, showcasing European excellence in aviation.

By working together, we can maintain and enhance our leadership in aviation, inspiring other sectors.

ACI Europe is a key partner for the Commission, and we rely on your collaboration to achieve another EU aviation success story.

So, how can airports help us transition to a more sustainable and competitive aviation sector?

We must focus on four key areas: airspace capacity, competitiveness, decarbonization, and efficiency, driven by innovation and investment.

Our airspace is well-managed and safe, yet it struggles to meet demand, leading to crowded airports and dissatisfied customers.

Europe leads in Air Traffic Management innovations, but we need to make our skies more flexible and less fragmented.

SESAR innovations can improve efficiency, and I encourage airports to adopt these solutions.

We must implement the Single European Sky to enhance air traffic management performance.

Decarbonization is essential for growth and energy independence, aiming for a climate-neutral economy by 2050.

Zero-emission airports are crucial, requiring the acceleration of renewable fuels and advancements in aircraft technology.

Industry initiatives like Airport Carbon Accreditation are vital for achieving our goals.

We must reduce fossil fuel dependence and embrace self-sufficiency while collaborating with allies.

The Commissions ReFuelEU Aviation initiative aims to support decarbonization and industry certainty.

As we scale up SAF investments, we must ensure that SAF becomes competitive with traditional fuels.

Noise reduction is also important; we aim to decrease the number of people affected by transport noise by 30%.

We need to balance the interests of residents and the aviation industry while adhering to EU laws.

Decarbonization should not come at the cost of competitiveness; we will review the Air Services Regulation to enhance global competitiveness.

Passengers are the core of our industry, and we must ensure fair and intuitive rules regarding passenger rights.

Stakeholder engagement is essential for effective legislative reviews, impacting the future of European airports.

In all our actions, we must be mindful of current global challenges and work toward a unified European approach.

We need climate-resilient infrastructure and innovative technologies to enhance security and efficiency.

As we develop military corridors, regional airports can become logistical hubs, requiring infrastructure updates.

In conclusion, aviation connects our communities and economies, embodying the EUs principles of freedom, equality, and unity.

Thank you for your efforts in keeping Europe connected and the aviation sector thriving.

With your continued cooperation in innovation, decarbonization, and investment, I am confident that our success story will grow even stronger.

Thank you.