Route charges system governance

The EUROCONTROL route charges system is governed by the Multilateral Agreement relating to Route Charges signed in 1981. The Contracting States agreed to a common route-charging policy and elected to use the services of EUROCONTROL for this purpose.

The enlarged Commission for Route Charges

The enlarged Commission for Route Charges consists of the Ministers of Transport of the Member States or their alternates. It is the decision-making body governing the common route charges. It determines the principles for establishing the costs incurred by States in respect of en-route services and also determines the common rules for calculating route charges.

The enlarged Committee for Route Charges

The enlarged Committee for Route Charges consisting of Member States’ representatives at senior level, is the executive body in charge of supervising the operation of the system, and of preparing the decisions of the enlarged Commission. It is assisted in this function by the Agency.

The user organisations

Representatives of user organisations attend all the sessions of the enlarged Committee with observer status. Their participation in the enlarged Committee allows for effective multilateral user consultation on changes affecting the route charges system – notably the charging policy and the level of charges. The multilateral consultations take place during the June session, where States present their first estimates for calculating their cost-base for the following year(s), and during the November session for the discussion on the final figures and calculation of the unit rates for the following year(s).

The Central Route Charges Office

The EUROCONTROL  Central Route Charges Office (CRCO) supports the EUROCONTROL Member States – through the enlarged Committee -  in their regulatory functions in the following areas:

• the definition and application of the Route Charges System Principles by Member States (and their service providers);
• the compliance by new EUROCONTROL  Member States with the Principles as a prerequisite for their integration into the Multilateral Route Charges System;
• reporting on costs and unit rates at the June and November sessions of the enlarged Committee.