Brussels, 27/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - Following her meeting with the American Secretary for Transports, Rodney Slater, the European Commissioner for Transports Loyola de Palacio confirmed, this Monday, that for lack of an agreement between the EU and the United States, the European regulation banning the registration of new hushkitted planes in the EU should enter into force next 4 May. However the parties continue to work for a possible suspension of the total ban on hushkitted planes, that targets all the aviation companies with the total ban on hushkitted planes as of April 2002, while the only European companies will be affected as of next May. "We have found a good basis for discussion and we are dedicated to continue real co-operation on new international standards in the ICAO' assured Rodney Slater.
The European Commissioner will present the results of the discussions to the Transports Council on Tuesday. On his side the American Secretary will meet the European Parliament's "environment" and "transports" committees, who will present, this week in plenary. A resolution through which the EP will state is willingness to review the ban on hushkitted planes in 2002, on condition that the United States undertakes in writing and in a binding manner to support the adoption of stricter standards than those in the European regulation (see EUROPE of 15 March, p.9).