Brussels, 23/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has launched an infringement procedure against Romania over its bilateral air service agreement with Russia. On Thursday 19 May, a letter of formal notice was sent, formally requesting information. Similar letters were sent in October 2010 to Austria, Finland, France and Germany, in January 2011 to Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Sweden and the UK, in February 2011 to Cyprus, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain, in March 2011 to Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta and Slovenia and in April 2011 to the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. The Commission is concerned that a bilateral air service agreement between a member state and Russia may hinder equal treatment of EU airlines and competition between European airlines as it may not contain an “EU designation” clause stipulating that the terms of the agreement apply equally to all EU airlines, not just to those of that member state. (A.By./transl.rt)