18/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 17 December, representatives of the United States, Iceland, Norway and the EU signed an agreement on the sidelines of the Transport Council to extend the Open Sky aviation agreement between the United States and the EU to the two Nordic states. In a press release, European Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani welcomed this extension, saying that accession by Iceland and Norway would enhance the benefits arising from the Single Sky agreement. This decision comes at a time when the EU and the United States are finding it difficult to negotiate the second state of the agreement, which should result in greater liberalisation of aviation markets (especially concerning market access and investment possibilities). On Thursday, the Council noted the state of progress of negotiations which, according to the agreement in force, must be finalised by 30 November 2010. Failing this, either party may suspend one or all the provisions applying at that stage. (A.By./transl.jl)