Brussels, 11/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - Talks with Tunisia with a view to concluding an “Open Sky” agreement to liberalise air traffic began in Tunis on Wednesday 26 June after stalling when they were formally opened in November 2012. Somewhat reticent from the outset, Tunisia then developed a programme aimed at controlling the risks linked to “Open Sky”, including the resurgence of competition in terms of price, positioning, service quality and cost, said one of the negotiators cited by the Tunisian media.
The Tunisian stance provides for measures to accompany public Tunisian aviation companies in order to help them face up to the heightened competition on that market and to make a place for themselves on the European market. The European Commission delegation, headed by Philippe Burghelle Vernet, head of the mobility and transport unit, presented in Tunis the technical conditions for the opening of Tunisian airspace, the EU's external policy in the field of air transport, and cooperation between Tunisia and the EU in the transport sector in general. (FB/transl.jl)