If the Financial Plan of Air Traffic Control of Serbia and Montenegro (SMATSA) for 2024 and the Business Plan of SMATSA for the period 2024-2028 are not adopted soon, the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) will adopt measures that will greatly damage SMATSA, but also the Black Goro, it was stated in the letter of the SMATSA trade union, employees in Montenegro, which they sent to the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro (ACV).
SMATSA is a joint enterprise of Serbia and Montenegro, which monitors the airspace over both countries and the southern part of the Adriatic Sea. It is a highly profitable company financed by fees from airlines, in which Serbia has 92 percent and Montenegro eight percent.
It has been in the status of temporary financing for eight months because the Government of Serbia did not approve the Financial Plan for 2024, and then the Supervisory Board did not adopt the Business Plan until 2028.
Overcoming the problem was the topic of discussion at the meeting held by the Minister of Transport this week Maja Vukićević had with a colleague from Serbia, Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesić. Details on that topic about the mechanisms for overcoming the problem have not been announced. "Vijesti" is waiting for an answer from the Ministry of Transport regarding the details of this meeting.
In the letter, the union also states that the CAA's opinion that the responsibility for this situation does not lie with SMATSA is incorrect, because the company and not its founders will bear the consequences of not having adopted plans that are mandatory according to international norms. Due to the transition to temporary financing, SMATSA employees cannot receive full wages, nor can the company implement projects essential for the improvement of air traffic control.
"The application of EU regulations does not lie in whether all actions have been taken, but ultimately in whether the regulations have been fulfilled or not, and in the case of SMATSA, as you know, the answer is no. In this sense, the role of CAA as a regulator is to determine the (non)fulfillment and (non)application of the regulation regardless of the reason for the same, as well as to order a deadline for its elimination, that is, its fulfillment and application. With this, CAA fulfills its obligations towards EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) independently of state authorities and (political) reasons for the current situation. By fulfilling its obligations, CAA plays a role in influencing all actors in air transport, including other countries and their governments, to comply with international regulations and rules. By avoiding its jurisdiction, the CAA falls under the influence of states and similar institutions and becomes an accomplice in the violation of EU regulations. If this case is not resolved, EASA itself must be informed about everything," it was stated in the Union's letter, which "Vijesti" has access to.
SMATSA has been in the status of temporary financing for eight months because the Government of Serbia did not approve the Financial Plan for 2024, and then the Supervisory Board did not adopt the Business Plan until 2028.
CAA told "Vijesti" last week that SMATSA did what it had to do and prepared the Financial Plan, but that it is not to blame that the Government of Serbia did not agree to it, as well as that CAA has no possibility to influence the Government of Serbia to adopt this document.
The Trade Union believes that the CAA can give orders to adopt documents, for the control of the implementation of which it is responsible.
"We also remind you that the Extended Eurocontrol Committee is approaching in November and that, if the situation is not resolved soon, financial and other consequences will be felt from the said committee's session, which will greatly damage SMATSA and the interests of Montenegro," the letter stated.
The "Vijesti" source from SMATSA previously said that the possible reason why the Government of Serbia did not approve their Financial Plan is of a political nature, i.e. that some members of the ruling party in Serbia want to take over the management of this profitable company with high salaries and invest in it. employ people close to them.
This company has a retained profit of 50 million euros on its account.
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