On Friday 15 February, the Member States' ambassadors to the European Union ('Coreper') reached an agreement on the air transport measures that could be taken at the European Union level to counter the consequences of the United Kingdom’s potential exit from the EU without an agreement (no-deal Brexit).
Like the measures relating to road transport (see other news), these discussions echoed the European Commission's proposal of 19 December last, suggesting measures in various areas to address some of the consequences of a lack of agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU on Brexit (see EUROPE 12163).
The aim here is to ensure that air carriers licensed in the United Kingdom can provide services between the United Kingdom and the EU, subject to the implementation of equivalent measures for EU carriers by London.
One of the Member States' recommendations concerns, in particular, the right of air carriers to continue to operate flights subject to public service obligations until 26 October 2019. This is intended to give operators time to adapt to the new environment.
A first meeting for inter-institutional negotiations ('trilogues') with representatives of the European Parliament is scheduled for Tuesday 19 February, as the European Parliament has also adopted its negotiating position (see EUROPE 12193). (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)