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EU to start negotiations for aviation agreements with some key partners

Xinhua, June 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

The European Union (EU) announced it would start negotiations for EU-level aviation agreements with some of its key partners on Tuesday, saying the move was of great significance to boost the bloc's growth.

The 28 EU transport ministers authorized the European Commission, the bloc's executive body, to start negotiations for EU-level aviation agreements with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Turkey, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, said a statement issued by the commission after ministers' Tuesday meeting in Brussels.

This is one of the main deliverables of the new Aviation Strategy for Europe, a milestone initiative to boost Europe's economy, strengthen its industrial base and reinforce its global leadership position, which are three core priorities of the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the statement said.

"Global connectivity is a driver of trade and tourism, directly contributing to economic growth and job creation," Violeta Bulc, the EU Commissioner for transport, was quoted as saying.

Once agreed, the new EU-level agreements would offer new business opportunities to the whole aviation sector, new routes and better fares to passengers, whilst guaranteeing a level playing field to EU companies, Bulc said.

The commission said the Aviation Strategy for Europe aimed to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the entire EU air transport value network.

It proposed to negotiate new EU-level aviation agreements with several countries and regions in the world, including China, ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council States, Turkey, Mexico and Armenia.

Tuesday's mandates were the first step towards increasing the number of agreements negotiated by the commission at EU level, it added.

Since the signature of the EU Air Transport agreement with the Western Balkan States, the number of passengers has almost tripled, EU data showed, in the case of Morocco, it has doubled.

Since the conclusion of the agreements with the United States and Canada the combined growth in passengers between the EU and these markets has been more than 3 million, the EU said. Endit