Member states’ experts exchanged views for the second time on a draft compromise from the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU on protecting EU airlines from subsidised and unfair pricing from non-EU operators at a meeting of the Council’s aviation working group on Wednesday 18 October.
The compromise refers to a draft regulation from the European Commission repealing Regulation 868/2004 of 8 June 2017 (see EUROPE 11804) to put an end to unfair pricing by non-EU airlines that harms European Union aviation groups.
On Wednesday 18 October, the aviation working group experts focussed on two articles. The first to be discussed was Article 4b, proposed by the Estonian Presidency on the EU’s interest in action in this domain. This potential measure, which the European Commission says is similar to a trade defence instrument, is far too vague for member states reluctant to legislate on the subject.
The second major block to the talks is Article 7 of the Commission’s proposal. The text suggests that the Commission should focus on all available facts for deciding on airlines’ practices before considering sanctions against them. Some member states feel that this does not go far enough when it comes to investigations. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)