Brussels, 14/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - An aviation agreement between the EU and Ukraine could be concluded during the European transport ministers' meeting on 5 June. The European Commissioner for Transport, Siim Kallas, is working towards this outcome and on Tuesday 13 May he met the Ukrainian minister of infrastructure, Maksym Burbak, in this connection. Speaking on Twitter, the Commissioner explained that signing such an agreement was a top priority for both sides.
If a formal agreement is reached, all traffic restrictions will be removed in the summer of 2015. European airlines will be able to provide direct flights to the Ukraine and vice versa. Free and fair competition is expected to help lower ticket prices. Ukrainian safety and aircraft certification rules will also be aligned on the European legislative framework.
At this stage, nothing has as yet been defined on the subject of European flights to the Crimea, following the annexation of this region by Russia. A possible ban on these flights could be included in the talks carried out at a European level on what measures should be taken in response to this annexation. (MD)