Open Skies: Jacques Barrot In Washington To Sign Historic Aviation Deal At The EU-U.S. Transatlantic Summit :

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Open Skies: Jacques Barrot In Washington To Sign Historic Aviation Deal At The EU-U.S. Transatlantic Summit
Communiqué publié le 30/04/2007 à 18h58

Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Transport, is in Washington today to sign the first-ever aviation treaty between the European Union and the United States, together with Council President Wolfgang Tiefensee, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters.

Mr. Barrot said "This agreement is both a centrepiece for today's reinvigorated transatlantic relationship and a big step forward in international aviation. By allowing new services to be launched from airports right across Europe, it will shake-up both the transatlantic market and the European airline industry itself. Already, the European airline industry is feeling its effects in a positive way, with plans for new services and signs of a much more flexible and dynamic approach to airline investment among European carriers."

Vice President Barrot added: "This first-stage agreement is a central feature of today's EU-U.S. Summit and a concrete example of EU-U.S. cooperation. This agreement is the result of excellent teamwork and I would like to thank the United States, the German Presidency, all the EU Member States, the European Parliament and the industry for their constructive approach and contribution.''

"Moreover, I welcome the firm commitment given today by Leaders on both sides of the Atlantic to conclude a second-stage agreement as a matter of priority. We have more work to do in order to open our aviation markets wider, let capital flow more freely and intensify our cooperation on issues like security and the environment."

Building on the creation of the European internal aviation market - a success story for the EU - the EU-U.S. aviation agreement lays solid foundations for a revolution in the international aviation industry that will see it treated as a "normal" global industry. This agreement is the most ambitious air services deal ever negotiated encompassing 60% of world traffic. It will serve as a blueprint in World aviation. It is a concrete and substantial move towards closer transatlantic relations and a major contribution to the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs.

EU-U.S. Summit Leaders have stressed that this agreement will bring real benefits for the economies, consumers and airlines on both sides of the Atlantic and have reaffirmed their commitment to pursue, as a matter of priority, negotiations to conclude a second stage agreement in order to achieve further liberalization.

The first ever EU-U.S. aviation agreement which has been signed today in Washington at the EU-U.S. Transatlantic Summit was initialed on March 2 in Brussels. It was welcomed by the European Parliament on March 14 and approved unanimously by the 27 Transport Ministers on March 22. It will enter into force on March 30 2008.

Among the benefits, the Agreement is predicted to bring billions of euros in economic benefits, millions of additional passengers and up to 80,000 new jobs over a 5 year period.

The ultimate objective of the European Union is to create an Open Aviation Area: a single air transport market between the EU and the U.S. in which investment can flow freely and in which European and U.S. airlines can provide air services without any restriction, including access to the domestic markets of both parties. The EU negotiating mandate foresaw the possibility of a staged-approach provided that mechanisms are in place to ensure progression to subsequent stages. The agreement signed today contains a strong mechanism for the phase-two agreement within a strictly defined timescale and a list of priority items. The second-stage negotiations will start no later than May 30 2008.

For further information please go to: http://www.eurunion.org

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