Hungary, together with Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia and Slovenia, on Thursday signed an agreement to create the “Functional Airspace Block – Central Europe” (FAB CE), an important step towards achieving the Single European Sky, the European Commission said on Thursday.

The agreement marks the establishment of the fourth FAB in Europe. Other European Union member states are expected to sign similar agreements in the coming year.

The FAB CE agreement creates the framework, general conditions and governance under which the contracting states intend to ensure air traffic management and the provision of air navigation services in the context of the Single European Sky legislation.

The FAB CE agreement … will help better manage the airspace and optimize the provision of air navigation services,” said European Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, who is responsible for transport.