09/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Court of Justice has heard the arguments of the parties in the case of the "Open Sky" agreements in which the European Commission is attacking eight EU countries for having concluded "open Skies" agreements with the United States in civil aviation. In the dock are Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and Sweden. The Commission considers that these agreements are contrary to Community legislation as they have a negative impact on the functioning of the internal market. The member countries consider they had the right to negotiate bilaterally. EUROPE will return to this.