Sofia inaugurated a new automated air traffic control system (SATCAS), supplied by Italy's Alenia Marconi, in the hope to support air safety, beef up the capacity of the air traffic control system and down prices. Bulgaria has one of the best air traffic control systems in Europe, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Nikolay Vasilev said at the inauguration ceremony on Thursday. The system will be put into operation in October this year. The initial price of the contract, signed in July 2000 with Italy's Alenia Marconi, stood at EUR 29,5 M, which towered to EUR 30, 7 M following additional expenses. The third generation system meets all requirements of the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL), including the European harmonization and integration that provides central flow management and regional air traffic services. EUROCONTROL is a European intergovernmental organization, independent of the European Union. Founded in 1960 for overseeing air traffic control in the upper airspace, it currently has 30 members and is charged with improving the coordination of air traffic control in Europe and conducting research and development to increase air traffic capacity in Europe.