Founding members
The SESAR Joint Undertaking was created under European Community law on 27 February 2007 with Eurocontrol and the European Commission as founding members.
The European Commission launched the SESAR programme as the technological pillar of the Single European Sky initiative. Bundling of research and development resources and efforts in the creation of a seamless sky is at the heart of it. The European Commission funds the SESAR programme with a total of € 700 million. Eurocontrol is involved in SESAR on behalf of its Member States. The Agency has managed the SESAR Definition Phase, and is a founding member of the SESAR Joint Undertaking for the Development Phase. It will contribute to it, in kind and in cash, in a planned total amount of € 700 million over the lifetime of the SJU.
Daniel Calleja, Director Air Transport Directorate – European Commission
"SESAR is one of the most important research and development projects ever launched by the European Community. While the Single European Sky’s regulations will provide a revised legal framework for a more efficient, performance driven, safer and greener procedures for the air traffic management in the entire ECAC area, the SESAR programme will deliver technological solutions, functionalities, systems and standards which will be deployed in Europe.
The SESAR Joint Undertaking constitutes a powerful public-private partnership which brings together all the stakeholders from the ATM community, including air navigation service providers, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, civil and military representatives and two international organisations, the European Community and Eurocontrol."
David McMillan, Director General of EUROCONTROL
"As a founding member of the SESAR Joint Undertaking, EUROCONTROL has a particular responsibility to work with the 16 partners with which agreements were signed today and ensure the programme's successful development. SESAR's innovative work to build the future European air traffic management system and to fit it within a global context is well underway and will deliver important benefits to society and airspace users alike."
