Brussels, 24/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - Gilles Gantelet, spokesman for the Commissioner for Transport, Loyola de Palacio, was sceptical Friday as to the proposal made by the United States to Member States, which have concluded "open sky" agreements with it, of amending the agreements by abolishing the nationality clause. The EU Court of Justice denounced these agreements considering that this clause, providing traffic rights to American carriers from and on EU territory in exchange for similar rights, but strictly limited, to national companies of these States, would create distortions to competition within the EU (see EUROPE of 6 November, p.13). "Firstly, we shall have to know exactly what this corresponds to", said Gantelet, for whom "it seems that the United States prefers sticking to bilateral agreements rather than concluding a global agreement with the EU". Indeed, he said, either the United States provides traffic rights on its territory to all airline companies, independently of their nationality, and, if that's the case, "just as well conclude a global agreement between the EU and the United States", or else the amendments made to the agreements will create other distortions. Anyhow, "the Commission will implement the Court ruling, and if the EU Member States do not do so, will shall take them to Court", he warned.
Friday, a special "Open Sky" meeting was being held in Athens with the participation of Michel Ayral, Director for Air Transport in the European Commission.